V S Acharya said No House Committee on land acquisition issue

13.03.10 : Home Minister V S Acharya today ruled out possibility of setting up a legislature committee to go into the issue of land acquisition for Bellary Airport project.

Speaking to Media on the sidelines of a function here, he said ''the process of land acquisition is nearing completion and at this hour, question of setting up a legislature committee to go into the issue does not arise.'' On the protest in the Legislative Council by the Congress and Janata Dal (S) members yesterday against land acquisition, Dr Acharya clarified that there was no forcible acquisition.

The government was ready to demand the report from the officials and table it in the House for discussion. ''But there is no question of setting up any House committee on the issue, he added.

Welcoming the decision of the Supreme Court yesterday on the repair works of the cave at Baba Budangiri Datta Peeta in Chikmagalore district, he said the issue was long pending and the apex court had ultimately agreed to the appeal made by the state government on the repair of the cave.

The state government had sanctioned Rs three crore for the purpose and Rs one crore had been spent, he said, adding as the court had given its approval, the state government would soon take up repair work in accordance with the guidelines of the supreme Court.

To another question about former Prime Minister and JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda taking the NICE issue to the national capital with the support of some national parties, Dr Acharya said NICE issue was created by Mr Gowda himself and he was the person who gave the first approval to the project.
''We are not heeding to any sort of pressure by him (Mr Gowda),'' he added.