State Legislation to take over BMIC

Bangalore, Jun 07: Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy today called for a public debate on the proposed legi slation to take-over the multi-crore private-public partnership Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project from Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises.

Speaking to newsmen after attending the inaugural ceremony of the Bangalore Bio-2006, the country's largest biotech show in the city here, he said it was no secret that large number of farmers who had lost their land to the BMIC project were feeling let down.

Defending the move to take over the Chief minister said the legislation was aimed at helping the farming community who had lost their valuable and cultivable land to NICE at a throw-away price.

He said the NICE, which started with a capital fund of just rupees 70, was presently owning lands worth over rupees 50 to 60 thousand crores within just 12 years at the cost of the farmers agony. The state government was determined to provide justice to the farmers who have lost their lands and there was no question of going back from it. The government could not remain a mute spectator when injustice was meted to the farmers in the name of development by some vested interests. " The government is not taking the BMIC as prestige issue " he added.

On the possible legal hurdles that might come in the way of state's interest to bring legislation the chief minsiter preferred a public debate on the issue and said that government after considering the all the issues including previous judicial decisions with regard to BMIC was bringing a comprehensive legislation.

UNI