Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister B S
Yeddyurappa today ruled out scrapping the Bangalore Mysore
Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, being undertaken by
the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), and said
acquisition of excess land would be returned to the farmers.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Yeddyurappa said the
Government had not given an inch of additional land to the
NICE other than agreed to in the framework agreement for
20,193 acres signed years ago.
But he said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development
Board had acquired excess land in 1998 -- instead of required
13,237 acres, it has notified for 18,701 acres.
"This excess acquisition of land would be returned to
farmers once alignment (of Bangalore-Mysore expressway being
undertaken by NICE) is finalised", Yeddyurappa said.
"NICE road will be a reality. There is no question of going
back on the project. We can't be a laughing stock before the
world (if we scrap the project)", he said. The framework
agreement would be honoured.
He urged the Speaker K G Bopaiah to fix a time for a
detailed discussion on the subject in the House, so that the
controversy could be ended once and for all.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah (Congress) suggested that
the Government take over the project and also constitute a
joint House committee to probe allegations surrounding the
project.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 16:17