BMIC proj: Congress demand judicial inquiry

Bangalore, July 5: Charging the erstwhile Janata Dal Government with erring in awarding the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project to Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council H K Patil today sought a judicial inquiry into the same to bring out the truth.

Participating in a discussion on the issue under Rule 68 in the Council, he said the probe should be headed by a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge.

Elaborating on the project right from its conceptual stage to signing the agreement with the private developer, Mr Patil alleged that the entire project was conceived and illegally legitimised by the then Janata Dal regime and the JD(S) was now opposing the project in the name of farmers only to get political mileage. While NICE demanded the release of 21,000 acres of land, the then Janata Dal Government had notified over 24,000 acres of land.

Denying that the previous Krishna Government had shown undue favours to NICE, he said both Mr S M Krishna and the then Industries Minister R V Deshpande had taken precautions against some of the clauses in the Framework Agreement, signed during the previous JD Government, as they were detrimental to the State's interests.

Mr Patil alleged that the JD(S) and BJP, which were at loggerheads over the issue, have placed the officials who have come under cloud in the controversial project in key posts.

Demanding a white paper on the entire issue, he urged the State Government to formulate a comprehensive Urban Land Ceiling Act to prevent precious land remaining in the hands of a few people.

After Mr Patil concluded his speech, House Officiating Chairman Sachidanand Khot adjourned the House for tomorrow.

UNI