I will resist loot of people's land and money:Gowda

New Delhi, June 8: Pained at media insinuations that he was blocking infrastructure projects, especially the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Deve Gowda said he was for the project but would resist all attempts to loot the people of land and money.

''I am being projected as a murderer of infrastructure projects, but the truth is otherwise,'' Mr Gowda told newspersons reminding that it was he who had initiated the expressway project in February 1995 when he was the Chief Minister. He noted that the project did not require any expenditure by the government, whereas the consortium constructing the road on a build-own-operate transfer (BOOT) was to return it to the government after 30 years.

But later it was decided that it would not be viable for the consortium to transfer back the road by toll income alone. It was also decided that it should be allowed to develop seven townships instead of five.

The land requirement estimated for the expressway was 5119.37 acres and 20092 acres for seven townships. The consortium were to buy the land at 'fair market price' fixed by the government.

''The project was accepted on BOOT basis where the government was to get back the toll road after 30 years and also 55 per cent area in township for common facilities and remaining 45 per cent of the areas for low income housing and subsidised low income housing. At the same time it was to provide 17 to 18 per cent returns for the investor. This project later turned out to be on a pure loot basis with the present consortium NICEL stepping in place of the old one in collusion with politicians and bureaucrats,'' the former Prime Minister said.

Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi, a former Comptroller and Auditor General of India after going through the records had observed that there was ''excess acquisition'' when the previous government was in power.

Even former State Industries Minister R V Deshpande had sought to know on records how it acquired more than the estimated area of land.

He said the media, especially in Delhi, were oblivious to the demands of the consortium that they get only expensive lands around Bangalore. The affidavit filed by the consortium before the Supreme Court itself revealed that it had no right to sell even an inch of land in the toll road, but it was now proclaiming that it has a right to sell lands and carry out all commercial activities around Bangalore. ''Is this correct?'' he questioned.

Asked if he favoured the government bringing in a legislation to take over the implementation of BMIC for itself, Mr Gowda said it was for the Government to consider and take the decision. The spirit of the judgement of the Supreme Court should be respected because Court is the temple of justice. But at the same time it should be made known who actually is the murderer of the infrastructure project, he said.

About the allegations that he was opposing the project to protect the lands of family members, Mr Gowda said ''I will slit my throat if it is established that I am doing this to prove that the land belongs to me or my family members,'' Mr Gowda said.

UNI