Private members' Bill on corridor project likely

Private members' Bill on corridor project likely

The Hindu

Independent members want `excess' land returned to farmers

# Sole representatives of parties support the independent members' move
# Their views on the issue are similar to those of the JD(S)

BANGALORE: Two or three members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly are expected to table a private members' Bill on the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project in the current session of the House. The Janata Dal (Secular) earlier sought to bring in legislation to take over the project, but its coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party, was not in favour of this. To ensure the smooth functioning of the coalition government, the Janata Dal (S) shelved the proposal and suggested steps to acquire "excess" land allotted for the project. A group of independent members of the Legislative Assembly and sole representatives of parties in the House are supporting the move to return "excess" land to farmers.

It is learnt that two or three members have sought to move the Bill.

The members, who held discussions on Saturday, have admitted that nullifying the agreement on the project is their main motive. They want to ensure that the Government forms a "land bank" which will handle future allotments of land and decide on compensation to farmers.

The Janata Dal (S) had planned to table a Bill to nullify the agreement with Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Ltd., which is implementing the project, and quash the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Planning Authority, which decides on use of land adjoining the expressway.

`Not aware of Bill'

Sources in the Government told The Hindu that they were not aware of the proposed private members' Bill, although they could assist in its drafting and presentation in the Legislative Assembly.

They said the draft law proposed by the Janata Dal (S) had been vetted by legal luminaries, and the contents of the private members' Bill were unlikely to be different.

The plan to table the private members' Bill took shape following a demand made Congress members in the Legislative Assembly.