The Hindu Business Line : CII meet to focus on land, policy issues

Bangalore June 19 Land acquisition and governance issues dogging projects in various States will be the focus of Suminfra 2007, the forthcoming CII South-sponsored infrastructure summit.

A regulatory commission for PPPs (public-private partnerships) may be in the offing as PPPs in infrastructure projects have come to stay, according to Mr J.P. Nayak, Suminfra chairman and President (Operations), L&T Ltd.

At a briefing on the summit, which is slated for July 6 and 7 here, Mr Naik said Karnataka and a few other southern states are each moving towards an infrastructure development enabling Act or framing a suitable policy. The Centre is also evolving model RFQ/ RFP (request for qualification/ proposal) and a model concession agreement for road and airport projects.

Now that many infrastructure projects have been started and large corporate players like L&T, GMR, Punj Lloyd and IVRCL are involved, the next step would be to involve the community in PPPs, he said.

A main topic of discussion will be structural issues affecting projects and the governance framework, said Mr V.P. Baligar, Principal Secretary, State Infrastructure Development Department.

Admitting that States were facing many problems with infrastructure PPPs, especially with land, he said, "[This time] We would like to discuss them and hope to solve some of the problems."

"We are wiser now with experience," he said, adding that Karnataka had tackled one thorny land-related issue at Bidadi recently by offering an innovative compensation package for land losers.

Mr N. Reguraj, Chairman, CII - Karnataka, said there would be an exclusive session on land acquisition, apart from urban infrastructure, transportation and logistics support. The four states would showcase their success stories, new opportunities and policy plans. The meet would feature the State Integrated Infrastructure Promotion, a joint effort to promote private players in these states.

The fifth annual event involving the four southern states as rotating partners returns to Bangalore after two years.

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