Citizens for a Better Public Transport in
(A coalition of civil society organizations and individuals)
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7 June 2011.
Press Release
Hyderabad Metro Rail
Govt’s Penalty crosses Rs. 11 crore
Profits to L&T even before the works begin
As per the Concession Agreement between the Government of A.P. and L&T on September 4, 2010, within 60 days of payment of the PS, the government shall have handed over at least 90% of the Right of Way to the Site (i.e. 269 acres of land, ten properties of GHMC, and road widening to a minimum of 100 feet) and obtained permission from the railways for the metro to go over Secunderabad station.
The Government’s penalty to the L&T has crossed Rs. 11.5 crores by today (32 days @ 36 lakh per day from 5th May). A new penalty started from yesterday (91st day after the payment of Performance Security on 4th March) - Rs. 1000/- per day for every 500 sq.mts or part thereof of the land and the Right of Way that is yet to be handed over. This will also run into crores of rupees in the coming days. It is not going to be easy for the govt to fulfill some of the conditions like getting permission from railways for the Secunderabad station, road widening at many places where land acquisition notices have not been served yet etc.
It is scandalous that crores of rupees of public money will be doled out to L&T in this manner. The private company is benefited before making any investment. This metro rail project may become the CWG scam (Commonwealth Games) of Hyderabad. It may be recalled that because of similar agreements in the past, hundreds of crores of public money was paid to private power companies by the government.
The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) authorities are announcing misleading figures about handing over of the lands but the official website does not provide any information on several important issues pertaining to this project.
Even ten months after making the agreement, the L&T is not disclosing to public the exact locations and designs of the stations, including the intersection points, and the extent of area required and the properties to be acquired for demolitions.
We appeal to the political parties to demand transparency in this project.
Sd/-
Sri S. Jeevan Kumar, State President, Human Rights Forum (HRF), Sri N. Ramakrishna Raju, Convenor, National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM), Prof. C. Ramachandraiah, Convenor, CBPTH, (Mobile: 94400 35405), Sri O.M. Debara, General Secretary, Forum For a Better Hyderabad.
Are you for real ?
ReplyDeleteThe contracts are valued according to conditions. L&T has already invested crores for guarantees, sub-contracts, suppliers and what not. These contracts are made keeping in mind the expected start of project, expected requirements etc. and L&T on its part would be liable not only if these contracts which it signed with other parties, but also for the interest cost payment for the loans it took in the market !
I would recommend to go look for those articles & publish same on your blog so that people are aware you are covering other half of the story when you are inciting them.
Seriously dude, initially I thought that you guys were raising some serious concerns, but more I have been through this blog, more I have realized that you are only trying to create an issue where none exists. Surely the right of traders is not contested, but when they are being compensated against, along with the benefit that the same would bring to them only, I surely believe that you guys are being misled by a few opportunist politicians (And AP really isn't in short supply there, is it ?).
Hope you guys would see the larger picture, and not limit yourself to the one-sided story that political parties like TRS & politicians like KCR are telling you.
I am not surprised that I didn't get a reply on this one !
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