Bangalore: NICE Kheny plans not-so-nice surprise for Deve Gowda in Hassan
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 29: Nandi Infrastructure Corridors Enterprises Ltd (NICE), which took up the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, under the chairmanship of its managing director Ashok Kheny is planning a not-so-nice surprise for JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda in his Hassan home constituency in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
Kheny, who floated the Karnataka Makkala Paksha (KMP) in the run-up to the 2013 assembly polls in the State, indicated that he planned to contest from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency against Gowda.
The NICE chief told reporters in lobby of the State Assembly that he would also be constesting from the Bidar Lok Sabha constituency.
Kheny has been elected to the Assembly from the Bidar South constituency on his KMP banner.
Earlier, participating in the debate on the motion of thanks in the House to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the State Legislature, Kheny declared that he will complete an express highway linking the two cities in 18 months if the State Government acquired the required land and provide all necessary clearances to the project.
Kheny said the land losers have been supporting his project and BMIC has won all cases in the Supreme Court.
The BMIC has been fighting more than 550 legal cases in the court, he said and declared: ''The project will happen whether I am alive or not.”
The BMIC has Supreme Court’s blessings. Ultimately, the truth will prevail. The project is aimed at the development of the people, he said.
The JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has been opposing the project on the grounds that the BMIC has acquired excess land.
Kheny urged the State government to conduct a meeting and direct the officials concerned to clear all pending files related to the project as early as possible.
In his interaction with reporters after the session, Kheny said more than Rs 3000 crore had been spent on the project so far.
Referring to ongoing railway projects in the State, he suggested to the Government to set up a Task Force to monitor progress of projects.
Kheny said the government has sanctioned 20 houses for each gram panchayat (GP) in a year under various housing scheme.
But identification of beneficiaries was difficult task since many people in the constituency were houseless. He urged the Government introduce a lottery system to identify beneficiaries without any discrimination.
Kheny suggested developing underground drainage system in towns and villages to ensure potable water to all households.
He alleged that industrialists from Andhra Pradesh have been dumping chemical wastes in open borewells located in the industrial area of Bidar.
Ramesh Kumar of the Congress demanded allocation of at least 300 houses for each GP to ensure houses for all poor families in the next five years.
Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa and Sunil Kumar of the BJP said allocation of at least 100 houses per GP in a year would solve the housing problem in the State.