NICE asks K'taka CM to implement SC directive

Bangalore, June 13: Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), promoters of the multicrore Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, has urged Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to implement the Supreme Court directive with regard to the project and ensure its trouble-free implementation.

In a letter to Mr Kumaraswamy, a copy of which was released to the press, NICE Managing Director Ashok Kheny said the state government was bound by the court order to implement 'in letter and spirit' the agreement, under which it was obliged to hand over 20,193 acres of land for construction of the 111-km expressway.

He said ''We are constrained to address this communication to you as the directions issued by the High Court and affirmed by Supreme Court is not being implemented in 'letter and spirit.' Mr Kheny said the Supreme Court, in its ruling dated April 20, had dismissed the state government's appeal against the High Court order which upheld acquisition of 20,193 acres by NICE for the project.

It had also observed that ''Considering the frivolous arguments and the malafides with which the State of Karnataka and its instrumentalities have conducted this litigation before the High Court and us, it shall pay NICE costs quantified at Rs five lakh and Rs 50,000 to the Supreme Court Legal Services Authority within four weeks.'' He said ''The Karnataka Government, being a civil authority under the constitution of India, is bound by the judgement of Supreme Court. As the Head of the civil government, you have personal responsibility to ensure that authorities subordinate to you enforce the decrees and orders of the Supreme Court. Any failure will clearly result in breach of your constitutional obligations.''

UNI