CM directs agri varsity to hand over 3 acre land

The long pending bus stand for Madikeri may be a reality soon

The decision was taken after a delegation comprising MLAs K G Bopaiah, M P Appacchuranjan, MLC S G Medappa, Madikeri CMC President P D Ponnappa, K Srikanth Rao and others met chief minister on Tuesday.

Though Bangalore University Vice Chancellor Dr Chengappa severely opposed the move to hand over the land belonging to Agricultural University citing the reason that the said plot was suitable for research on paddy varieites.

Besides, the trials of international varieties of paddy too are done at the same spot, he argued.

However, Bopaiah and Appacchuranjan stated that the research is not done in the middle of City.

“As the shifting of the bus stand is a long pending demand of Madikeri and as the members of the public are facing a lot of inconvenience, the university has to hand over the land to the authorities concerned,” they demanded.

In fact, the chief minister assured the delegation to provide the land for the bus stand in any part of the City to de-conjust the existing bus stand. On the other hand, the Agriculture Department Secretary sought alternative land at any place including Ponnampet.

As the chief minister directed the vice chancellor to hand over the land, the latter agreed to do so. The decision has made the citizens of Madikeri to heave a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, the CMC has resolved to utilise the Rs 15 crore funds that is yet to be received, as the Rs 1.6 crore meant for construction of private bus stand, has been used for other purpose.

CMC Chief K Srikanth Rao told Deccan Herald that the works on the bus stand will be started as soon as the land is handed over.