Gowda launches all-out attack against Infosys

Gowda questions land allotments to Infosys
Deccan Herald

Mr Deve Gowda alleged that some IT companies in Bangalore were trying to defame the coalition government in the State.

A day after a close-door meeting with Infosys chief mentor Narayana Murthy, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda ridiculed Mr Murthy for his suggestion on urban governance and cautioned Chief Minister N Dharam Singh on taking a final decision on allotment of 845 acres of land on the outskirts of Bangalore.

At a press conference in Bangalore on Sunday, Mr Gowda was critical of Mr Murthy’s suggestion for shifting the focus in the State to urban governance and setting up urban bodies on the lines of grama sabhas. Mr Gowda remarked that “the views of high-profile and elite personalities are different from ground reality.” Mr Gowda wondered if Mr Murthy knew the problems of rural life.

Meanwhile, in a letter to Chief Minister N Dharam Singh on October 11, the copies of which were released to the press on Sunday, Mr Gowda demanded that the government should give details on extent of land allotted to various IT companies, including Infosys.

He also sought comparison of employment generated by such companies including Infosys, which have taken government land, with other IT firms like Wipro, HP and IBM which have not been provided any government land.

Mr Gowda said: “I am sure companies like Wipro, Intel, Accenture, IBM, HP and Honeywell, which have not been allotted government land and functioning mostly in rented buildings, account for more than 85 per cent jobs provided by the IT firms in Bangalore.”

He claimed that Infosys had acquired 78 acres of land in Bangalore, 350 acres in Mysore and 311 acres in Mangalore. Further claiming that the company had sought allotment of about 845 acres of land near Sarjapura and Anekal taluk for setting up software development centre and residential township, he cautioned the chief minister on taking a final decision on approval. “This will not only attract public criticism, but also bring discredit to government,” he said.

He alleged that the final approval of the BMRDA’s master plan was delayed by about a year to accommodate the request of the IT major for allotment of land. He further alleged that besides changing the land use pattern in the agricultural zone, the KIADB had been forced to approve land acquisition though the Board had nothing to do with acquisition of land for residential township.

The proposal has now been forwarded to the high-powered committee headed by the chief minister himself, Mr Gowda said.

He alleged that a number of companies, including a few IT firms, had not fully utilised the government land allotted to them to preserve the land for real estate purpose. He alleged that there was a systematic malicious campaign from some quarters in the IT sector to brand the coalition government as anti-IT and one with no interest to improve Bangalore infrastructure.

He criticised the Bangalore Agenda Task Force wondering why the panel comprising stalwarts failed to create property infrastructure facility in Bangalore. He alleged that the panel was now putting the blame on the present government.

Referring to the delay in clearance to the international airport project, he noted that Mr Narayana Murthy himself headed the Bangalore International Airport Limited.

At the same time, Mr Gowda asserted that the government will not allow any IT company to go away from the State.

Missive to CM

*Get details on extent of govt land provided to IT firms, including Infosys.

*Compare jobs provided by IT firms which have govt land with those that haven’t.

*Firms which have not got govt land account for 85 % of IT jobs in Bangalore.

*Allotting 845 acres of land on city outskirts to Infosys will attract public criticism.

*Why BATF comprising stalwarts failed to provide proper infrastructure?