The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka setting up panel to rework pact with Skil Infrastructure

Bangalore, Oct. 5 In its first meeting after the continuing stalemate over the transfer of power to the coalition partner, Bharatiya Janata Party, the Karnataka Cabinet presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, and the ministers belonging to Janata Dal (S) met on Friday to fix the price of land to be acquired for the Mangalore Refinery Petrochemicals Ltd’s proposal of a special economic zone in Mangalore.

About 271 acres of Government land had been earmarked for the SEZ.

The Cabinet meeting was not attended by the BJP Ministers, who had submitted their resignations after Mr Kurmaraswamy honour the power sharing agreement under which BJP was to assume power after the first phase of 40-month rule of the JD(S)-BJP Coalition formed the Government after JD(S) withdrew support to its earlier coalition partner in February 2006.

Briefing newspersons here after the Cabinet meeting, the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Basavaraj S. Horatti, said the Cabinet also decided to set up committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Mr P.B. Mahishi, to rework the agreement signed with Skil Infrastructure, promoter of a multi-product SEZ in Nandagudi near Bangalore.

Monorail project

The Cabinet also decided to expedite the Monorail project by asking the Singapore-based Asian Infrastructure Development Corporation to submit a detailed project report within 60 days to finalise a global tender under the Swiss Challenge System, a new bidding process to help private help private sector initiative in core sector projects.

The Monorail system will act as a feeder service to the Metro Rail System (MRS) and will connect from the points where MRS alignment did not serve the transit route.

Metro Rail System is expected to be on wheels in 5-6 years in its fist phase covering 38 km.

On the Nandagudi project, Mr Horattri said the Government was not responsible for the acquisition of land for the project.

He said Skil Infrastructure should submit a detail rehabilitation and resettlement policy for land losers and landless labourers and such a policy should be examined by the Government for approval.

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