Bengaluru: The bilateral talks held between the Governments of Kerala and Karnataka here on various projects failed to yield results as Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai turned down the proposals of his counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan, citing environmental concerns.
Bommai rejected all the key infrastructure-related proposals of Kerala, saying it will damage the Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) and wildlife sanctuaries. Vijayan called on Bommai in Bengaluru yesterday to hold discussions on various projects and issues of mutual interest, as decided at the South Zonal Council meeting.
The projects that Vijayan and Bommai discussed were Kanhangad-Kaniyur Railway Line via Panathur, Thalassery-Mysuru Railway Line, an underground tunnel passing through Bandipur National Park, and a proposal to increase bus services at night in this ESZ.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Bommai said that the Kerala Government sought cooperation for its various Railway and Highway projects. The proposed Kanhangad-Kaniyur Rail Line project has a 40-km route in Kerala and 31-km in Karnataka.
“However, this project is not very beneficial for Karnataka. Besides, it will pass through the rich bio-diversity and ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats that are declared Tiger and Elephant Corridors. So, the Kerala CM was clearly told that it was not possible for Karnataka to give extended co-operation for this project.”
“… the Railways had said that it will review the project if both the States agree to it. We rejected it because there is no benefit to Karnataka from this Railway Line,” he said.
Another Railway project that the State rejected was the Thalassery-Mysuru Railway Line.
Vijayan discussed the old project of the Thalassery-Mysuru route and he was told that it was not possible to give permission as the proposed rail route will traverse through Bandipur-Nagarahole National Parks and it will cause great damage to flora and fauna, Bommai said.
The Kerala Chief Minister proposed the construction of an underground rail route and even it was rejected flatly as it would damage the environment during the construction activities.
Vijayan was informed that presently, two buses are operated during the night through Bandipur National Highway, but he sought permission to allow four buses and that proposal was also rejected, Bommai pointed out.
He said Vijayan also told him that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed a new alignment touching the NH-73. He also apprised Bommai that this new alignment will not pass through the ESZs.
“We don’t know what proposal the NHAI officials are coming up with. Let the NHAI give us a proposal. However, we will not allow any project in ESZ, be it Nagarahole or Bandipur National Park,” Bommai clarified.
Kerala CM has strong support at the centre, particularly from Narendra Modi, the PM. Modi is interested in gaining more support in Kerlala, to neutralise the influence of Congress there,, and hence he will approve Vijayan’s plans, all of them.
Bommai, the very weak CM of Karnataka, although heads a BJP government, Modi and Amit shah think, he is unimpressive, and will be lucky, if he gets a majority in the next election in Karnataka.
What this Bommai does not know is that Mysore is already strongly linked to Kerala through Wayanad-Nanjangud route, and as a result the number of Keralites coming and establishing homes in Mysore city has Massively increased in recent years. I have set uop business in Mysore city so too many of my Kerala colleagues.
Rahul Gandhi, the MP from Wayanad, is pressing for more road and rail links to Kerala, which Modi cannot ignore, as also Sashi Tharooor. Modi wants to win more MPs from Kerala.
There will be large expansion of airlinks with Kerala, when the Mysore air port is expanded to receive Jet aircraft.
Modi in his recent stop over in the UAE, invited the Kerala businessmen who are resident there to set up businesses in Mysore city, assuring them that there will be non-stop weekly flights from Doha-Mysore route when Mysore airport gets expanded.
Hence, Bommai is on a losing streak, as he will be overruled by PM Modi.
I have special interest in the eco-system preservation.
Recently I drove through the areas that cover Bandipur and Nagarahole park areas, and was very shocked to see the heavy encroachments taking place, in these 2 eco-sensitive areas. These areas have didled through these encroachments , as compared to what the state they were a couple of decades ago. Thekkady park in Kerala in comaprison is well preserved.
Hence, if the Kerala government challenges Bommai about the degree to which they have preserved the Bandipur and Nagarahole Parks, to dispute his ESZ claims, and asks inspections to take place, then Bommai’s assertions will be laid bare , as Karnataka governments -both Congress and BJP have neglected the \Bandipur and Nagarahole parks. Bommai is skating on very thin ice!
I agree PM Modi will approve the Kerala government plans.
Good decision by Karnataka government , this will only benefit Kerala and our economy system will be spoiled
Good decision by Karnataka government , this will only benefit Kerala and our economy system will be spoiled
Every CM , particularly the CMs of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and AndhraPradesh knows that this caterpillar moustached Lingayat Bommai, is a dimwitted and clueless CM of Karnataka, desired by the Laingayat seers only. There is anxiety that in the next election due to take place soon, he may not get a good majority. Hence, the visits by Amrit Shah to Karnataka and visit to Mysore city by Modi with excuse of international Yoga Day.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments are heavily lobbying the central government, with the Kerala CM wanting this railway line of his plan ,and Tamil nadu CM, about the Meke Datu project,Issues. They are confident that Modi will side with them
Basavaraj Bommai , the Karnataka CM does not even know the thinking of his own BJP leader and PM Modi. When he knows that PMModi has assured Kerala CM, that his plan will go ahead,, Bommai will be get a huge shock, and will have hard time explaining his failure.