Divergent views by coalition partners on NICE Corridor project

Bangalore, Jun 13 (UNI) Divergent views adopted by coalition partners Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party today on the take over of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Expressway Corridor (BMIC) project delayed commencement of the cabinet meeting for five hours.

The meeting, scheduled to commence at 1600 hours, ultimately began around 2100 hours after hectic behind-the-scene parleys among the leaders of the parties. At least thrice Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj Horatti walked into the Chambers of Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who had kept himself engaged in his ante room along with his cabinet colleagues belonging to BJP.

Finally, Mr Yediyurappa emerged out of his chambers after Chief Secretary B K Das and Advocate General Uday Holla held discussions with him.

Nearly 30 minutes after the meeting, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy told waiting newspersons that his party was committed to its earlier stand of taking over the company through a legislation along with excess land allotted to it for the proposed expressway to be built by the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE).

Mr Yediyurappa clarified that his party too was committed to its earlier stand that the excess land be withdrawn from the company.

However, his party had reservations about taking over of the entire project from the company.

JD(S) spokesman and General Secretary Y S V Datta, talking to reporters, said the next cabinet was likely to take up the draft of the proposed legislation to pave way for takeover of the project after carefully considering legal views involved in the project.

Later briefing newsmen after the meeting, Mr Horatti claimed the BMIC issue did not figure during the meeting as it was not listed on the agenda for the day.

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