Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar praised tunnel road project, but no funds assured: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar praised the tunnel road, flyover, and B-Khata conversion initiatives of the state government during a meeting of urban development ministers of southern states here.
“We have presented before him our demands for the state, but he has not assured any funds,” the Deputy CM said in a statement on the meeting.
Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru development portfolio, is locked in a legal and public dispute with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on the tunnel road project.
BJP leader Tejasvi Surya is waging a legal battle against the project by appearing on behalf of actor Prakash Belawadi, who has opposed it.
At a press meet post their Wednesday meeting, Surya said this "cost-intensive project" worth Rs 43,000 crore will serve no purpose and advocated the public transport system such as Metro Rail, suburban rail, buses of all sizes and even trams.
Hitting back at Surya, Shivakumar said, “Who is Tejasvi Surya to say that the tunnel road is not needed? He can ban all tunnel projects in the country once he becomes a Union Minister. Out of respect, I gave him time or the meeting, but now he is talking utter nonsense. He does not know how the world works.”
Mocking Surya's push for public transport, he asked, “Why is he travelling by car? Let him and his family travel by metro and government buses. Let the MLAs of his party travel by metro and auto rickshaws. Why do they need cars? He has to realise that there are about 1.3 crore vehicles in Bengaluru and we can’t tell everyone to use public transport.”
Highlighting the Congress' role in bringing metro rail to Bengaluru, Shivakumar questioned BJP’s contribution when it was in power in the state.
“What have they got for the state from the Centre? Centre gives only 11 to 12 per cent of funds for Namma metro and the rest is borne by the State government,” Shivakumar said.
The Deputy CM dismissed Surya as a "waste material and an empty suitcase."
"If the senior leaders from the BJP like R Ashoka, Ashwathnarayan and Jagadish Shettar ask questions, I am willing to reply because they understand the ground realities. Where is the land for BRTS? Is he (Surya) even aware of the costs involved in acquisition of lands for these projects?”
Shivakumar said Union Minister Khattar echoed PM's praise for the city and was briefed on urban reforms, administration of local bodies and formation of Greater Bengaluru Authority.
He noted that urban-centric projects have been discontinued and the 15th Financial Commission's promises remain unfulfilled.
"We have communicated our requirements to the 16th Finance Commission," Shivakumar said in the statement.
At the meeting, Karnataka ministers Byrathi Suresh and Rahim Khan raised concerns about municipal reforms.
The meeting chaired by Khattar, was held in Bengaluru on Karnataka government’s request, which was attended by urban development ministers from five southern states participated.
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'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
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Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
