The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Rs. 480 crore has been spent on metro rail’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Rs. 480 crore has been spent on metro rail’

Staff Reporter

State told to issue copies of statement of objections to parties

BANGALORE: The State Government on Tuesday said that Rs. 480 crore had been spent on the Bangalore Metro Rail project.

The State made this statement in the objections it filed in the High Court on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by C.M.H. Road Shops and Establishments and Residents Association.

The association had filed a petition challenging the legality and validity of the project. It said the project should have been taken up under the Indian Railways Act and not under the Mysore Tramways Act of 1906. The project had not obtained environmental clearance, it added. In its 22-page statement of objections, the State said the project could be taken up under the Tramways Act and there was no legal bar. Moreover, clearance for the project had been obtained from the Centre. The State said till March 2008, it spent Rs. 480 crore on the project. Any stoppage of the project would not be in public interest. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice V. Gopala Gowda asked the Government to issue copies of the statement to the parties concerned and adjourned further hearing to Wednesday.

Dismissed

Justice N. Kumar on Tuesday dismissed a petition by Bannerri Amman Sugar limited of Coimbatore which had sought a direction to the authorities to refund Rs. 1 crore which it had deposited as earnest money deposit (EMD). The company said it had deposited the EMD when it sought to take on lease, rehabilitate, operate and transfer the Bhadra Sakkare Sahakari Kharkane Niyamitha at Doddabathi in Davangere. It, however, did not bid for the factory and sought refund of EMD.

Pulled up

Justice N. Kumar on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the manner in which a tahsildar had passed an order.

Citing the confusing words in the order, Mr. Justice Kumar observed that though the order was in Kannada, the tahsildar had used some inappropriate words. Taking umbrage over such ambiguity, Mr. Justice Kumar asked the government advocate to place the order before the Kannada Development Authority.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka