People being misled by rumours: Vijayapura D.C.

With rumours rife that the High Court of Karnataka has stayed the ongoing Master Plan project, Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep said that some people are trying to mislead the common people by spreading false information.

Speaking to The Hindu here, he made it clear that High Court has given stay on demolishing the house of only one petitioner; Anand Joshi who has sought stay on the demolition. “He and his advocate, Vijay Kulkarni are projecting it as if the Court has given stay on entire project, which is completely false as there is no such order issued by the Court,” Mr. Randeep said.

It may be noted that Mr. Kulkarni, along with some other residents, said at a press conference on Sunday that the Court had stayed the project calling it illegal. Mr. Kulkarni had said that since the project was taken as per Land Acquisition Act, 2013, the entire project was illegal and stands null and void.

Mr. Randeep, however, said there was no compulsion on the part of the city municipal corporation to implement the project as per the 2013 Act since the corporation, under Karnataka Municipal Act, had full authority to undertake road widening work.

“Moreover, at the time of commencing the Master Plan project, even the State government had not issued any notification with regard to new act formulated in 2013,” Mr. Randeep said.

He asserted that even the corporation had passed a resolution for widening of M.G. Road to 100 feet, and since the corporation is the legal entity, its decision was valid and legal.

Asserting that the Court order was not a major setback as it was a mere interim order and not a final judgment, the official said the district administration would file its reply before the Court in order to get stay vacated.

Meanwhile, he said that the district administration, within a week, would start constructing storm water ducts and pavements on the already widened roads at the cost of Rs. 7 crore.