Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
Credit. DH Photo
Bengaluru: Participating in a discussion on the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) in Bengaluru initiated by BJP MLC H S Gopinath, Deputy Chief Minister said that he would not risk going to jail by denotifying the land required for the ambitious project.
Reminding the Legislative Council that the notification for the PRR was issued in 2005-06, Shivakumar said, “But no government denotified the land for the project. I don’t want to go to jail by denotifying the land. This is the stance that both the state government and I have taken on the issue.”
Underscoring the need to ensure that finances for the PRR project are efficiently managed, the Deputy CM said, “We cannot afford to borrow Rs 27,000 crore for the project. We welcome any suggestions for managing the financial burden of this project. There are about 5,000 houses on the land notified for the project, and we need to decide what action is to be taken.”
Karanth Lyt: State losing Rs 1K cr annually: DCM
Meanwhile, the state government is incurring a loss of Rs 1,000 crore annually as a consequence of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Shivaram Karanth Layout, the Deputy CM added.
“The layout was developed at a cost of Rs 7,000 crore, but we have not been able to hand over the sites to the owners since the court has asked the government to maintain status quo. The government is losing Rs 1,000 crore every year as a result. We are discussing the issue with the Advocate General. Although notification for the land for the layout was issued 15 years ago, farmers are yet to receive compensation for the land they parted with. I am confident the courts will clear the issue quickly.”
‘Will act against corrupt officials’
The Deputy CM assured members of the Council that action would be initiated against officials involved in the development of the Kempegowda Layout if they are found guilty of corruption.
Replying to a question by MLC Javarayee Gowda who alleged irregularities in the land acquisition process for the Kempegowda Layout, Shivakumar said, “Give me details of officials who have accepted bribes, and I will sack them by evening.”