MANU AIYAPPA - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
25 Jan, 2007 0108hrs IST
HUBLI: When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. That's exactly what is happening in the case of the row over allotment of land to IT firms and the proposed law university.
The prolonged tussle between revenue minister Jagadish Shettar and opposition leader H K Patil over the issue has become a major stumbling block in the development of twin cities. "I don't understand why these two senior leaders are making a fuss of such a minor issue when both these projects are for the benefit of Hubli-Dharwad", some residents rued.
The row of allotting land to IT companies is brewing here since the last six months. It all started when the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation decided to allot 50 acres of land at Rayapur for IT Companies. This was after some major IT companies had evinced interest in setting up shop here.
However, former minister H K Patil, in an attempt to push through his dream project of setting up a law university, raised an objection, thus depriving investment from major IT companies.
"It is not right to change the whole plan just for the sake of one or two companies. Let them (IT firms) opt for their land wherever they want, but not at a place where it has been reserved for the law university", was Patil's contention.
His argument was that the previous government had notified the land near Rayapur for the law university and had even appointed a special officer to look into the details. Even primary and secondary education minister Basavaraj Horatti had endorsed his view at that point of time.
But he was convinced after a meeting of public representatives and officials was held in November. In the meeting, it was decided to allot the land to IT companies as several such firms wanted that land at Rayapur. Moreover, they also felt that the law university needed land of over 100 acres to set its campus.
But all these developments had little impact on H K Patil, who took up the issue at the government level. By then, the issue had also taken a political turn and district minister Jagadish Shettar, under pressure from his party men, took up the issue with renewed interest.
Due to his efforts, the cabinet finally gave its nod for allotting 50 acres of land at Rayapur to IT firms. With this, just when everyone though the dust has settled on the issue,H K Patil has once again sent ripples when he announced on Tuesday that he had made a representation to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy seeking land at Rayapur for the law university.
To add to this, some organistions and law students have also joined hands in support of H K Patil's demand.
The prolonged tussle between revenue minister Jagadish Shettar and opposition leader H K Patil over the issue has become a major stumbling block in the development of twin cities. "I don't understand why these two senior leaders are making a fuss of such a minor issue when both these projects are for the benefit of Hubli-Dharwad", some residents rued.
The row of allotting land to IT companies is brewing here since the last six months. It all started when the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation decided to allot 50 acres of land at Rayapur for IT Companies. This was after some major IT companies had evinced interest in setting up shop here.
However, former minister H K Patil, in an attempt to push through his dream project of setting up a law university, raised an objection, thus depriving investment from major IT companies.
"It is not right to change the whole plan just for the sake of one or two companies. Let them (IT firms) opt for their land wherever they want, but not at a place where it has been reserved for the law university", was Patil's contention.
His argument was that the previous government had notified the land near Rayapur for the law university and had even appointed a special officer to look into the details. Even primary and secondary education minister Basavaraj Horatti had endorsed his view at that point of time.
But he was convinced after a meeting of public representatives and officials was held in November. In the meeting, it was decided to allot the land to IT companies as several such firms wanted that land at Rayapur. Moreover, they also felt that the law university needed land of over 100 acres to set its campus.
But all these developments had little impact on H K Patil, who took up the issue at the government level. By then, the issue had also taken a political turn and district minister Jagadish Shettar, under pressure from his party men, took up the issue with renewed interest.
Due to his efforts, the cabinet finally gave its nod for allotting 50 acres of land at Rayapur to IT firms. With this, just when everyone though the dust has settled on the issue,H K Patil has once again sent ripples when he announced on Tuesday that he had made a representation to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy seeking land at Rayapur for the law university.
To add to this, some organistions and law students have also joined hands in support of H K Patil's demand.
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