[sustran] Re: [sustran] Update on Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project issue

[V. S. Pendakur]

We seem to be getting only the negative part of this project.  A discussion
group can only with input from all aspects.  What the positives?

Cheers.  Setty.
Reply email:pendakur at interchange.ubc.ca
Dr. V. Setty Pendakur, Professor Emeritus (Planning) and
Adjunct Professor (Engineering), University of British Columbia
President, Pacific Policy & Planning Associates
1099 Marinaside Crescent--#702
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 2Z3
Ph:604-263-3576; Fax:604-263-6493
----- Original Message -----
From: kisan mehta <kisansbc at vsnl.com>
To: sustran-discuss <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
Cc: <geobpa at nus.edu.sg>; <esg at bgl.vsnl.net.in>; <hjk at rincon.net>
Sent: October 7, 2001 9:31 AM
Subject: [sustran] [sustran] Update on Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure
Corridor Project issue


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: kisan mehta <kisansbc at vsnl.com>
> To: <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
> Cc: <<geobpa at nus.edu.sg>>; <<sustran at po.jaring.my>>; <esg at bgl.vsnl.net.in>
> Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2001 8:27 PM
> Subject: [sustran] update on Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor
> Project issue
>
>
> > Dear Leo, Paul and Sustran Colleagues,
> >
> > Ref emails of Leo Saldanha and Paul Barter giving update on the
> > Bangallore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project.
> >
> > Leo and colleagues have done a real good job in getting the National
Human
> > Rights Commissioner
> > take interest and issue notice to the Karnatak Government.   Public
> Hearings
> > as evolved by the Central Ministry of Environment and Forests are
> > an eye wash.  The way they are conducted are an
> > insult to the concept.  A District Collector who has nothing to do with
> > Project implementation or is not concerned  with the environment
> conducting
> > Public Hearings defeats the concept of Public Hearing.   Though
financial
> > viability is as relevant as
> > environment protection, the Presiding Officer does
> > not allow questions on financial aspect.  We cannot raise questions as
to
> > who will benefit, who will pay
> > for the project and why public exchequer created
> > from common man's  taxes should be burdened with the cost of such
> projects.
> >
> > The Maharashtra Government has set up
> > Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to take up
> > construction of roads, flyovers, elevated roads, expressways.  The MSRDC
> > built
> > 50 and odd flyovers in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 20 billion (true figures
> never
> > disclosed) at a time when
> > Mumbai's local authorities were negotiating for the World Bank
assistance
> > for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP II).  The WB withdrew
> > on seeing that measures envisaged under
> > MUTP II were getting obliterated.  So Mumbai
> > is huddled with unwanted dangerous flyovers
> > and non-car users undergoing serious hardship.
> >
> > A matter that may be of interest to you, Leo, in
> > your present challenge, is the development of
> > Mumbai-Pune Expressway (MPE) on a hush hush basis. The MSRDC planned,
> > publicised and
> > rushed through MPE.   Out of 165 km distance between Mumbai and Pune,
the
> > MPE covers 80-90
> > km requiring motorists to fend their way through
> > highly crowded balance 75 km killing pedestrians.
> > The MPE has become serious accident hazard for motorists (as pedestrians
> are
> > not allowed) killing
> > five to six vehicle users a week.
> >
> > The State Finance Minister now admitted that  toll motorists pay does
not
> > even cover even
> > the interest charges payable on  Rs 16 billion
> > spent.  What to talk of other costs connected to maintenance of the
> > expressway?
> >
> > We had at the time of project planning suggested
> > that with Rs 20 billion provided for the MPE, new
> > bullet type train service with separate tracks can
> > be set up to cover the entire distance in 90 minutes
> > and to take commuters in busy midtowns. Many more people than the
> motorists
> > would avail of the facility.
> > This alternative was rejected outright because the MSRDC are basically
> road
> > builders.
> >
> > Maharashtra Government is under severe financial strain.   So called
> > progressive Maharashtra added population at a rate higher than the
> national
> > average
> > (Census of India March 2001), has low literacy, hopeless public health
> > levels.  About 60% of Maharashtra's villages suffer from drinking water
> > scarcity, high starvation death rate. .
> >
> > You can use this example of how craze for roads (sophisticated gargon
> > `infrastructure' foisted by WB/IMF) can ruin the government and people.
> > I can send zerox of Maharashtra Finance
> > Minister's public admission and my letter that
> > I am drafting at present.  The MPE included development of two urban
> centres
> > to finance,
> > they claim, the cost of expressway.  Now with
> > the State poorer by Rs 16 billion, the question of creating urban
centres
> is
> > shelved.   So this is
> > how public projects are mooted and implemented.
> >
> > In any case, Bangalore-Mysore is well connected
> > by train service.  This can be upgraded if
> > necessary  so that everybody using the corridor
> > can benefit. Added benefit to all and lower pollution.
> > Best wishes.
> >
> > Kisan Mehta      kisansbc at vsnl.com
> >
> > ---- Original Message -----
> > From: Paul Barter <geobpa at nus.edu.sg>
> > To: <sustran-discuss at jca.apc.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2001 7:25 AM
> > Subject: [sustran] FW: update on angalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor
> > Project issue
> >
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----
> > From: Environment Support Group [mailto:esg at bgl.vsnl.net.in]
> > Sent: Thursday, 4 October 2001 5:38
> > To: sustran at po.jaring.my
> > > Subject: NHRC directs review by Karnataka Chief Secretary on Human
> Rights
> > Violations in BMIC
> > Public Hearings
> >
> > > Dear Friends,
> > >
> > > India's National Human Rights Commission  has issued a directive to
the
> > Karnataka
> > > Chief Secretary to take "appropriate" action on human rights
violations
> > during
> > > the Environmental Public Hearings held as part of the clearance
process
> of
> > the
> > > Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project.  The project is
> > presently estimated
> > > to cost over Rs. 4,000 crores or approx. US$ 1 billion, and involves
the
> > construction
> > > of five major cities and an Expressway between Bangalore and Mysore
> > cities.
> > >
> > > You will recall, that during July 2000 there was widespread
condemnation
> > of the
> > > Karnataka Government's selective and brutal arrests of citizens and
> > representatives
> > > of civil society groups who demanded access to social, environmental
and
> > techno-economic
> > > information on this massive project in order that the Hearings held
were
> > meaningful
> > > exercises.  ESG initiated a letter campaign to the Chief Minister of
> > Karnataka
> > > and as a result of the combined pressure Mr. Krishna assured that an
> > enquiry
> > into the incident would be conducted.  The enquiry was never initiated
> > however,
> > > and we then appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
> The
> > present directive is a result of this process.
> > >
> > > The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests appeared convinced that
> the
> > Hearings
> > > had not been held fairly.  Aware of the NHRC review underway, it had
> even
> > publicly
> > > acknowledged that it would perhaps not accord environmental clearance
to
> > the project under the circumstances.  The Ministry however, did an volte
> > face on this commitment and during August this year extended a
conditional
> > environmental
> > > clearance to the project.  Curiously the clearance applied only to the
> > Expressway
> > > component, a small part of the BMIC Project. The Ministry thus shirked
> its
> > responsibility
> > > in reviewing the wider impacts such as displacement from over 170
> villages
> > and
> > > the widespread environmental impacts of the townships proposed.
> > Ironically the attack on citizens participating in Statutory Public
> Hearings
> > was at a time when the Karnataka Government was projecting itself as an
> > adminstration
> > > that values transparency and was even holding consultations towards
> > legislating
> > > the Right to Information Act.  If there was an opportunity to
> demonstrate
> > the
> > > State's intentions of ensuring transparency in decision making, it was
> in
> > conceding
> > > the just demand of citizens across Bangalore, Mandya and Mysore
> districts
> > to
> > access information on the project.  Having thus failed, the Government
> > stands
> > > exposed as regards its sincere commitment to ensuring transparency.
> > >
> > > The NHRC directive now provides both the State and Central Governments
> an
> > opportunity
> > > to support fair and full discussion on this Project by holding the
> > Statutory
> > > Public Hearings again.  Not only would this help set right the grave
> > wrongs committed,
> > > but would even demonstrated the Government's true commitment to
ensuring
> > transparency
> > > in decision making.  Our appeal to the Chief Secretary of Karnataka in
> > this regard,
> > > along with a Press Release on the matter, is enclosed.
> > >
> > > Meanwhile the campaign demanding the BMIC Project be scrapped, led by
> the
> > Karnataka
> > > Vimochana Ranga initiated BMIC Virodhi Okkoota (BMIC Opposition
> > Federation),
> > > is gaining momentum.  To demonstrate wide public support to this
demand,
> a
> > "Bundh"
> > > (Public Strike) of Mandya city has been called on 6th October to
protest
> > against
> > > the continuing support of the Government to this highly controversial
> and
> > questionable project.
> > >
> > > Your continuing support and interest in this campaign is highly valued
> by
> > all and we thank you for your cooperation and support.
> > >
> > > Best regards
> > >
> > > Leo F. Saldanha
> > > Coordinator
> > > Environment Support Group
> > >
> > > PS:  More details about the Project, its impacts and the ongoing
> Campaign
> > against
> > > the BMIC project please visit:
> > > <http://www.indiatogether.org/campaigns/bmic>.
> > > (long supporting documentation snipped)
> >
> >
> >
> >
>