Bangalore Metro Rail First Phase Inauguration by PM by Sep 15

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 24: The first phase of the prestigious Namma Metro rail project in Bangalore from Byappanahalli to M G Road via Indira Nagar is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh by Septemebr 15, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda disclosed on Wednesday.

Participating in a Meet-the-Press programme jointly organized by the Press Club of Bangalore and Bangalore Reporters Guild, the first-ever full-fledged media interaction after becoming the Chief Minister on August 4, Gowda indicated that he would be talking to Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi to take immediate steps for conducting the Railway Safety trials, which is the basic requirement before commencing operations.

''I have already invited the Prime Minister to inaugurate the Reach I of the Bangalore Metro project during my first meeting to Delhi after assuming power," he said pointing out that Prime Minister had told me that he may not be in a position to visit Bangalore on account of the parliament session and his imminent visit to Bangladesh on September 6 and 7 and has agreed to consider it if a date was set around September 15.

The Chief Minister said he held a detailed review of the Bangalore Metro works along with the Chief Secretary S V Ranganath and the top officials of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited on Tuesday.

Media Can’t be Kept in the Dark

Responding to media questions on the BMRCL Managing Director N Sivasailam’s decision of barring entry of media representatives from visiting the Metro works, Gowda said the BMRCL authorities have been told the allow the media representatives to visit and report so as to keep the public informed. ''Media is performing an essential duty of keeping the people informed and this is a project meant for the people. We should be open and should not try to curtail information," he said pointing out that there was no harm even if the media highlighted the shortcomings and lapses as it would ultimately benefit the people and the organization.

The Chief Minister said he has directed BMRCL officials to ensure that the contractors were asked to restore the roads in places where the Metro work had been completed to their original position in order to ensure smooth movement of traffic. He also promised to personally visit and inspect the works in greater detail after sorting out the initial teething troubles of government formation.

''Improvement of roads in Bangalore will be given top priority and full attention," he said promising to launch inspection of works in the city by undertaking ''Nagarapradakshine."

'Not Yeddyurappa’s Puppet’

Turning to political issues, Gowda said he would not react to the reported comments of his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa on staging a comeback as chief minister in six months. ''He is entitled to express his views. The context of the statement must be considered," he said and declared that he would not react to any statements on whether he will last for two months or 180 days or six months.

''I have been entrusted this responsibility, which I never expected, by the party and the legislators. I will try my best to live up to the expectations of the people and the party," he said asking the people and media to judge his performance through his actions rather than going by anybody’s claims.

''I am not going to be anybody’s puppet. If at all, I will consider myself as the puppet of the six crore people of Karnataka," Gowda said in answer to a question on criticism that he would be Yeddyurappa’s puppet.

He explained that he had called on Yeddyurappa, when he was hospitalized, and there was no need to attach any special meaning to the visit. ''He is a former chief minister and senior leader of our party. He is entitled to all security and facilities that are due to a former chief minister. I will certainly take his suggestions and advice but take my own decisions," he said asking the people and opposition parties to judge him by his performance.

'No Hasty Decisions’

Answering questions on the Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde’s report on illegal mining which led to the resignation of Yeddyurappa and his elevation to the Chief Minister’s post, Gowda said his government needs time to study the 25,000 page report. ''I have already constituted a high-level committee headed by the Additional Chief Minister and other senior officials to study the entire report and give its report," he said and made it clear that the government would take appropriate decision on the action to be taken against the nearly 800 officials indicted by the Lokayukta.

''I don’t believe in taking a hasty decision and repent later. I will take sufficient time to study the pros and cons and take a legally correct and sound decision," he said

On the illegal mining issue, he said the Government would go by the verdict of the Supreme Court, which is seized of the issue. However, Gowda said the government was fully aware of the likely consequences of over a lakh of families being thrown out of jobs and livelihood if there is a blanket ban on mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkiur districts. There is also the question of losing Rs 4,000 crore of revenue in a year, he said adding:''We need to be pragmatic."

Assembly or Council: Decision in a Month

To a question on whether he intended to become a legislator from the assembly or council, the Chief Minister said: ''I have not applied my mind to the issue so far. I will abide by the party’s stand. I hope to get this issue settled within a month."

However, he announced that he has decided not to avail the salary and allowances as an MP and has decided to take the remuneration to which he is entitled to as Chief Minister from August 4, the day of swearing in. ''I am also filing a statement of assets and liabilities to the Lokayukta in the next couple of days," he said.

Admitting that land denotification was one of the biggest problems and cause for political corruption, Gowda said he has decided to handle the issue of denotification of lands through an high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary. ''I am not going to say that there will not be any denotification of lands, because that will harm the development of the State. However, I want to make it clear that the denotification will be done strictly on a need-based basis after examining all issues."

'Not scared of Bhootas’

When a reporter asked him about the superstitious belief that the Chief Minister staying in his official residence, Anugraha, was likely to lose power as devil (Bhoota) was haunting it, Gowda quipped: ''I am not scared or afraid of any Bhootas because I don’t there is any bigger Bhoota than me."

On the charge that Lokayukta DIG Mohanty was being shunted out and appointed as Joint Commissioner of Police in the city at the behest of Yeddyurappa in order to help the former chief minister, Gowda stoutly denied it and made it clear that Mohanty had completed his two-year tenure and the transfer was done strictly in accordance with the norms. ''There is no question of bypassing the Lokayukta to benefit anybody," he said promising to take all steps to support and strengthen the new Lokayukta Justice Shivaraj V Patil.

Replying to a pointed question on the induction of former minister V Somanna despite his name figuring in the Lokayukta report, the Chief Minister explained that the decision was taken only after taking legal advice as there were no strictures against Somanna personally. His names figures merely as the father of his son, who is involved in mining activities. That is no reason for keeping him out of the ministry. He also pointed out the charges against C P Yogeshwar were also legally examined before taking the decision to include him in the ministry.

The Chief Minister declared that he would concentrate on continuing the development agenda of his predecessor and implement the programmes and schemes of the previous government. ''I am not going to announce any new schemes or programmes. You will have to wait till the next budget for the new programmes and schemes," he added.