Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Thursday 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, Mr. 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”, Mr. 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.
