People furious on being deprived hearing

People furious on being deprived hearing


Express New Service
First Published : 11 Nov 2008 09:27:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Nov 2008 02:17:51 PM IST

BANGALORE: Braving the Monday morning traffic, a large number of Bangaloreans had gathered at the public hearing called by the Joint House committee expecting to air their views on the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA).

But, much to their disappointment, all they got to see was an empty KPTCL auditorium, the venue of the firstever public hearing called by the Committee, which is probing the alleged design and construction lapses at the BIA.

The committee, which had convened the public hearing on Monday, has postponed it to November 13 without any prior intimation, which made the public furious as many had come to attend the hearing leaving their busy schedule.

A few office-goers who turned up were furious at its postponement by the committee headed by BJP MLA Hemachadra Sagar.

A press statement issued by the Information Department earlier this month had stated that a public hearing at KPTCL auditorium was scheduled for November 10.

A couple of days later the department had issued another press statement stating that public hearing would also be held at Jnana Jyothi auditorium on November 13.

But, the second release failed to mention that the November 10 hearing was postponed to November 13.

Despite the hearing being called off, a majority of those who had come for the hearing stated that the airport was of international standard and that they wanted to make suggestions on how the facilities could be improved.

The committee members comprising legislators, had earlier said that before submitting their report to Assembly Speaker Jagdish Shettar, a final opinion would be sought from the public