Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Oct 3: "State Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who announced in both the houses of the legislatures that he would bring to the fore all the irregularities and frauds committed by the previous governments relating to Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMIC), has given his seal of approval to the activities of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Ltd (NICE) that is executing BMIC, even before any discussion on these things are held," commented JDS national president H D Deve Gowda.
"The state government has approved the draft sale deed for the lands acquired by Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, proposed to be sold to NICE. This has been confirmed by the under secretary in the department of commerce and industry on September 9, Gowda said at a press conference held here on Thursday October 1. He alleged that the draft sale deed violates the Supreme Court order that had stipulated that the BMIC should be implemented as per the original agreement.
Gowda pointed out that the state government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, promising that the project would be implemented as per the original plan. However, the draft sale deed now approved, has set aside the original agreement and instead, supplemental agreements have been given priority. This has been done with the specific intention of favouring NICE, he said. Gowda also alleged that the draft vests the right to conduct activities like residential, industrial and commercial activities in the land being handed over to NICE. "The agreement also empowers NICE to sell land on the roads on which toll is charged, which is grossly wrong," Gowda added.
Deve Gowda warned that he would take the fight to the streets, if the government fails to provide for detailed discussions on the irregularities and misdeeds committed in this connection by the previous governments and officials. He vowed not to spare the officials who deviated from the affidavit filed by the state in the Supreme Court. “I will follow them like the proverbial 'Betala',” he thundered.
Leader of opposition in the assembly, Siddaramaiah, in the meanwhile, negated the charges levelled by Deve Gowda about the role of the former in the NICE controversy. He said that he is prepared for any form of investigation into the issue. At the same time, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, reacting to Gowda’s threat, said that there is no need to convene a special session for discussing NICE. Speaking after garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on Friday October 2 in the city, he said that separate time slot would be set aside for discussing about NICE at the winter session of the legislature.