BMIC Project: A fraud on people of K'taka, says CPI (M)

Bangalore, June 29 (UNI) Declaring the controversial Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project as a fraud on the people of Karnataka, CPI(M) member G V Srirama Reddy told the Assembly that the Legislature had the power to vet the project over-riding the order of the Executive.

Initiating a discussion on the project, he said the power had been amply indicated in the High Court decision on the BMIC project and the same had been ratified by the Supreme Court. However, it was up to the government to take such an initiative, he added.

Mr Reddy had given notice of an adjournment motion on this issue earlier. But it was converted into a matter for discussion for short duration by the Speaker and was listed for today.

Highlighting various inadequacies in the project, he said it was a total sellout to the private sector. Beyond the requisite land, the project promoters, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), had been given excess land to indulge in real estate business, he claimed.

Mr Reddy said though the High Court had stated that the project should be implemented under the Framework Agreement (FA), the Government had arrived at a tripartite agreement with NICE, violating the FA. Besides, it had also been provided with valuable land worth Rs 1,422 crore, tax exemption to the tune of Rs 158 crore and stamp duty waiver of Rs 85 crore, he added.

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