HD Kumaraswamy says HMT land claims ‘incorrect’, accuses Karnataka govt of spreading misinformation

BENGALURU: Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday alleged that the Karnataka government had misused a recently retired officer to spread “misinformation” that HMT land belongs to the Forest Department. He noted that the matter was sub-judice and said that indulging in such speculation, when the central government is working to revive the HMT factory, would “spoil” the future of the younger generation.

Kumaraswamy claimed that reports circulated in the media suggesting that the Forest Department had issued a 30-day notice to take possession of HMT land were “incorrect”.

This comes after a significant development in the dispute over the 430-acre land parcel occupied by HMT Limited in Bengaluru. The Forest Department has ruled that the estimated Rs 15,000-crore property is forest land and directed the company to hand over the entire tract unless it files an appeal within 30 days of receiving the order.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy says, “Today, our Karnataka government, by misusing one inefficient officer who retired just a few days ago, has spread news in several print and electronic media outlets claiming that HMT land belongs to the Forest… pic.twitter.com/0CUDtSdMef

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“Today, our Karnataka government, by misusing one inefficient officer who retired just a few days ago, has spread news in several print and electronic media outlets claiming that HMT land belongs to the Forest Department. They stated that they have given a 30-day notice to seize all HMT lands for the forest. They are spreading that news, but it is not correct. The matter is currently pending in court,” Kumaraswamy said.

The Union Minister alleged that misinformation was being spread despite the matter being before the court and urged the DK Shivakumar government to refrain from making such claims.

“However, these individuals… spread this misinformation. That is not correct news. I demand that this government stop this, as our Central Government, under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, wants to revive the HMT factory. I am currently working out a plan to revive the plant. At this juncture, if you spread this kind of misinformation, what will happen to the thousands of young people who want employment in that institution? By engaging in this kind of speculation, you are spoiling the future of our younger generation,” Kumaraswamy said.

He said the Ministry of Heavy Industries was preparing a plan to revive the HMT factory and maintained that speculation over the ownership of the land could undermine the Centre’s efforts and adversely affect employment prospects for thousands of young people.

Furthermore, in the ongoing dispute over land held by Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) Ltd. in Bengaluru’s Jalahalli area, the public sector undertaking had earlier been directed to hand over 430 acres and 21 guntas of land in the Peenya Plantation and Jarakabande Sandal Reserve to the Forest Department within 30 days, after a court ruled that the land qualifies as forest land. (ANI)