Aren’t you cutting your nose to spite your face, Mr CM?

Aren’t you cutting your nose to spite your face, Mr CM?
H S Balram
The Times of India

When Deve Gowda’s son Kumaraswamy took over the reins of the government and started clearing hurdles that privat e - p u bl i c partnership (PPP) projects faced, he won the admiration of the people. He applied the healing balm on the IT sector which was hurt by accusations of land grabbing. Quite unlike his father, everyone felt. PPP is the only hope for infrastructure-starved cities, including IT capital Bangalore. But his latest decision to bring in a piece of legislation that allows the government to take over projects that require more than 5,000 acres of land shows him in bad light. The move negates the very concept of PPP.

What’s the urgent need for such a piece of legislation? Everyone knows the answer. To stall, if not take over, Gowda’s pet obsession — the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, which comprises an expressway and five townships en route. Only BMIC falls under the ambit of this legislation. That the move comes in the wake of the Supreme Court rejecting all objections and telling the government in the strongest terms to let the project go on unhindered smacks of arrogance. Ironically, successive governments, beginning with that of Gowda, have cleared the project. Is it some sort of personal vendetta?

That those at the helm can bend rules or change the law to suit their needs and thwart courts speaks volumes of political degeneration. If they aren’t satisfied with the apex court’s verdict, they can go in for a review petition. Is it that they aren’t confident? Do they fear another rap from the apex court, strong enough to unsettle the government? They don’t realise that standing on prestige will do more harm than good.

Kumaraswamy will lose the goodwill earned so far if he goes ahead with the Bill. The industry at large is already upset. There is just no alternative to PPP — the path chosen by the rest of the world. It is the best option at this juncture when infrastructure is crumbling. Why kill the golden goose just to settle scores with one company? The government should be an enabler, not an obstructionist. Investors will otherwise think twice before venturing into Karnataka. Other cities like Chennai and Hyderabad are already luring them by saying Bangalore lacks good infrastructure. Kumaraswamy badly needs the support of the private sector to put the state on the fast track. Result: He will move up fast on the political ladder. Infrastructure will improve fast. Investors will pour in. The state will benefit.

Kumaraswamy is young and new to governance. People have high expectations of him. He cannot afford to let them down. He should keep off ill-meaning individuals and their advice. Scores of other unfinished projects are crying for attention. Why is he bent upon shooting himself in the foot?

the list; no additions and subtractions thereafter. Only then will the sanctity of the award be restored. Will you do this, Mr CM?