MP for consultation on new airport

MP for consultation on new airport
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore June 24, 2008, 0:29 IST

Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar has written to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on the Bengaluru Airport calling for an open and transparent public consultation on the issue of Bengaluru Airport.

He has done this at the behest of a large number of citizens who have urged him to intervene on this vexed issue.

It can be recalled that Rajeev Chandrasekhar was among the citizens to advocate against the closure of the HAL airport.

In his earlier letters to the Civil Aviation Ministry Chandrasekhar contended the point of the city having two airports. He had urged the ministry to have public interest as the single most important criterion whilst taking decisions.

With the closure of the HAL airport and creation of a private airport monopoly, Chandrasekhar seeks to start a citizen-government debate through a consultation process on the implications and justifications to perpetuate the monopoly.

In his letter to the CM, Chandrasekhar has sought an open and transparent review of BIAL's claim that its significant investments need a monopoly to ensure financial returns on this large investment.

He stated, "There are a number of other questions that arise from this claim that need clarification in the public interest — especially since the shareholders of the company are also its largest contractors, thereby creating a potential conflict of interests in terms of the capital costs and investments"

He has urged an open and transparent public consultation particularly on project cost, viability and the required returns of the BIAL airport and also on monopoly versus competition for airports in the city.

Chandrasekhar had earlier suggested a neutral approach on the airports.

"If a commercial contract comes in the way of public interest being served, it is important for us to examine in detail the background of the commercial contract and see how it can be unwound with no prejudice to the investors. Infrastructure is in too short supply in our country and too precious for us to be looking at shutting down and closing infrastructure in the name of viability of one," he put forth his views.

"We should address the viability of the new investment in other ways. I would urge that the shareholders of BIAL, namely Zurich Airport, L&T, Siemens be true stakeholders in our city and come forward on their own and demonstrate sensitivity to the needs and aspirations of Bengalureans and I would strongly caution against insisting on its monopoly and windfall profits. This is an unsustainable stand by any investor or corporate in a modern city like ours and will amount to seriously wronging the people of this city and State and will naturally have the consequent repercussions which should be avoided," he added.

In another request to the state, Chandrasekhar has urged Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to strengthen the Lok Ayukta.

In his letter to the CM today he has asked the government to take all steps to strengthen the Lok Ayukta by pushing through the pending measures that give the Lok Ayukta the suo moto powers it has repeatedly sought. Without the necessary powers the Lok Ayukta cannot fight the corruption that it continually seeks to defeat. The issue of additional powers to the Lok Ayukta has been pending with the Government for several months now.
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore June 24, 2008, 0:29 IST

Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar has written to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on the Bengaluru Airport calling for an open and transparent public consultation on the issue of Bengaluru Airport.

He has done this at the behest of a large number of citizens who have urged him to intervene on this vexed issue.

It can be recalled that Rajeev Chandrasekhar was among the citizens to advocate against the closure of the HAL airport.

In his earlier letters to the Civil Aviation Ministry Chandrasekhar contended the point of the city having two airports. He had urged the ministry to have public interest as the single most important criterion whilst taking decisions.

With the closure of the HAL airport and creation of a private airport monopoly, Chandrasekhar seeks to start a citizen-government debate through a consultation process on the implications and justifications to perpetuate the monopoly.

In his letter to the CM, Chandrasekhar has sought an open and transparent review of BIAL's claim that its significant investments need a monopoly to ensure financial returns on this large investment.

He stated, "There are a number of other questions that arise from this claim that need clarification in the public interest — especially since the shareholders of the company are also its largest contractors, thereby creating a potential conflict of interests in terms of the capital costs and investments"

He has urged an open and transparent public consultation particularly on project cost, viability and the required returns of the BIAL airport and also on monopoly versus competition for airports in the city.

Chandrasekhar had earlier suggested a neutral approach on the airports.

"If a commercial contract comes in the way of public interest being served, it is important for us to examine in detail the background of the commercial contract and see how it can be unwound with no prejudice to the investors. Infrastructure is in too short supply in our country and too precious for us to be looking at shutting down and closing infrastructure in the name of viability of one," he put forth his views.

"We should address the viability of the new investment in other ways. I would urge that the shareholders of BIAL, namely Zurich Airport, L&T, Siemens be true stakeholders in our city and come forward on their own and demonstrate sensitivity to the needs and aspirations of Bengalureans and I would strongly caution against insisting on its monopoly and windfall profits. This is an unsustainable stand by any investor or corporate in a modern city like ours and will amount to seriously wronging the people of this city and State and will naturally have the consequent repercussions which should be avoided," he added.

In another request to the state, Chandrasekhar has urged Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to strengthen the Lok Ayukta.

In his letter to the CM today he has asked the government to take all steps to strengthen the Lok Ayukta by pushing through the pending measures that give the Lok Ayukta the suo moto powers it has repeatedly sought. Without the necessary powers the Lok Ayukta cannot fight the corruption that it continually seeks to defeat. The issue of additional powers to the Lok Ayukta has been pending with the Government for several months now.