Protest at the Pro-Metro meet: English Press Coverage-17July2011

TRS activists and oustees disrupt meet on metro rail 

The Times of India  http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIH/2011/07/17&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00603&ViewMode=HTML

Meeting on benefits of Metro marred by protests

The New Indian Express

HYDERABAD: A discussion on role of the Metro rail in development of city on Saturday was marred by disruptions by protesting activists of the TRS and traders of Sultan Bazar. The Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director NVS Reddy, who was giving a presentation on advantages of the Metro project at the Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram organised by Jana Chaitanya Vedika, was forced to leave the venue by the agitators. Trouble began when TRS workers led by Greater Hyderabad TRS Convener K Srinivas Yadav and joint convener A Venkatesh and Sultan Bazar traders stormed into the hall and raised vociferous slogans, demanding change in alignment of corridor-II (Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma). They also demanded that wherever the Metro is passing through heritage structures, it should be laid underground.

NVS Reddy told agitators they would explain in detail about the project and that it is being implemented for development of the city. But TRS workers and traders did not heed to pleas and resorted to throwing tables and chairs, leading to the meeting ended abruptly. Meanwhile, C Ramachandraiah, convener, Citizens for Better Public Transportation in Hyderabad condemned Laxman Reddy of JCV for organising the meeting. “It is unfortunate to see that JCV which claims to fight against corruption is promoting a scam-tainted project,” he added.

TRS disrupts meeting on Metro Rail

The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2233874.ece

Press Release on the Pro-metro meeting

Citizens for a Better Public Transport in Hyderabad

(A coalition of civil society organizations and individuals)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                                                                 16 July 2011.

Press Release

On Civil Society’s Pro-metro meeting today

Leading anti-corruption movement on one side and promoting a scam-tainted project on the other?  We condemn the initiative of Laxman Reddy of Jana Chaitanya Vedika (JCV) for organizing a pro-metro meeting with NVS Reddy, metro MD, as the main speaker. We also condemn Srinivas Reddy of APSA and Dr. Rao Chelikani for being speakers in such a meeting on Saturday (16 July).

We have no problem with individuals having their opinions on the metro project, but these three persons are leading members in the Citizen Forum Against Corruption in AP (headed by Justice A. Lakshma Rao, former chief justice of Allahabad High Court). It is their responsibility to demand an open debate and transparency on the metro project so that all the doubts are cleared to the public. Even today this project is pushed without sharing its documents and without a public debate. Lack of transparency will result in a scam. Thousands of traders, heritage activists and TRS party have protested on several dimensions of this project.

Instead of demanding or oganising an open debate on this, they wanted to do a big favour to the scam-tainted project. It is because of such meetings that the civil society gets a bad name in the eyes of the public while talking against corruption. They must resign immediately from the Forum Against Corruption.

We would like to congratulate the Traders-JAC, Sultan Bazaar Parirakshana Samithi, and TRS activists for protesting at the meeting venue. (The meeting seems to have ended abruptly with the protesters unwilling to allow the MD to continue speaking.) The metro officials should take this as a lesson and make all documents public and hold public debate, and not depend on dubious organizations to gain legitimacy. More they do this, more discredited the project becomes.

Sd/-

Prof. C. Ramachandraiah, Convenor, Citizens for Better Public Transportation in Hyderabad. Mobile: 94400 35405

Shri S. Jeevan Kumar, State President, Human Rights Forum, Andhra Pradesh.

Traders vow to fight to save Sultan Bazaar - Reject HMR offer

Metro corridor: traders sound note of warning

The Hindu, 9 July 2011

The Traders Joint Action Committee and Sultan Bazar Parirakshan Samiti have rejected the announcement to build a new commercial complex at Putlibowli to accommodate businessmen affected by the elevated metro rail's second corridor passing through the area.

In a press statement on Friday, JAC chairman Govind Rathi and president V. Kishan Yadav warned that unless the corridor route (JBS-Falaknuma) is re-routed as demanded, they would ‘gherao' the metro rail authorities. Stating that there was a lot of opposition to the metro line by various sections of the society and political parties, they wondered why the government was bent on crushing shopkeepers of Sultan Bazar and Badichowdi.

Sultan Bazar was a 200-year-old heritage totally pedestrian market with temples and a masjid, they claimed and pointed out that the livelihood of shopkeepers and property owners was at stake because of the project. They urged the city Ministers -- Mukesh Goud and D. Nagender -- to hold a dialogue with the affected shopkeepers and also people managing the religious shrines.

The JAC also faulted the metro line authorities, particularly Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMR) MD N.V.S. Reddy for lacking knowledge about Sultan Bazar and going ahead with the project only to please the government and L&T. For the full news item, click here. 

HMRL move to rehabilitate displaced traders condemned

Times of India | Jul 9, 2011.Sultan Bazaar traders have condemned the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited's (HMRL) move to set up a commercial complex at Putlibowli to rehabilitate the displaced traders. The traders have demanded that local MLA, Mukesh Goud, hold a public dialogue with the affected shopkeepers and show some regard for the 200-year-old heritage market. For the full news item, click here.

Traders reject HMR packageJuly 9, 2011, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad

"shopping malls cannot be an alternative to pedestrian markets like Sultan Bazaar which cater to the needs of people from lower income groups". Click here for the full news item.