Metro: CMH Road traders threaten self-immolation

Metro: CMH Road traders threaten self-immolation
VIJAY TIMES NEWS

Bangalore: The members of the CMH Road T raders and Residents Association have threatened self- immolation in protest against the Metro Rail unless the Justice K Shivashanka Bhat Committee changes the CMH road alignment of the project.

The project is awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs later during the week. Speaking to Vijay Times, the Association president Imtiaz Ahmed said,’’ Government will be killing the goose that lays golden eggs.

Business establishments which have been contributing in crores towards the government exchequer by way of V A T , excise, income and property taxes will be as good as dead with the section of the Metro Rail passing through the CMH Road.

W e are firm and will continue opposing the project unless the alignment on the section is changed. W e will resort to self immolation as we are willing to sacrifice anything to protect our business.’’ The residents are skeptical of the KIADB and BMRC’s claim to provide compensation at market rates to the owners whose properties are going out be acquired for the project.

There are numerous examples of citizens being troubled and harrassed by the government agencies following acquisition of their properties. BDA, City Improvement T rust Board, Karnataka Housing Board have acquired private land for public utility purposes in the past. It was only after the property owners had approached the judiciary and litigations went on for decades that justice was done and due compensation awarded. The government cannot be trusted at all they said.

Ahmed said that they were now banking on the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Justice K Shivashankar Bhat for good sense to prevail and prevent the metro on CMH Road on humanitarian grounds rather than use draconian Act to deprive citizens of their fundamental rights.