Opposition Congress stages Dharna in the well of the House

Bangalore, Aug 2 (UNI) Opposition Congress members led by their leader H K Patil in the Legislative Council staged dharna in the well of the house demanding setting up of a House Committee to inquire into illegal felling of trees by Nagarjuna Thermal Power Plant and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).

In reply to a call attention motion by K Prathapachandra Shetty (Cong), Minister for Forest M Channigappa said that three cases had been filed against Nagarjuna and Divisional Forest officer has been asked to inquire and submit a report before August 30.

Mr Patil alleged that Rs 50 Crore worth trees were cut illegally by Nagarjuna company Thermal Power Company to set up its unit in Dakshina Kannada district.

Minister for Higher Education and House leader D H Shankaramurthy, intervening during discussion, said that since the Minister has already ordered inquiry in to the matter the opposition should wait for its report and should not press for house committee.

However, sticking to their demand the opposition members trouped into the well as Chairman of the house Professor B K Chandrashekhar adjourned the house for 30 minutes.

When the house reassembled, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Minister for Home and Parliamentary Affairs M P Prakash assured the house that action would be taken against erring official and against the company after getting the DFO's report and appealed to the Opposition members to withdraw their dharna.

Mr Patil, however, demanded for inquiry by the Additional Chief Secretary for which the government agreed and opposition members withdrawn their dharna later.

UNI