State readies to file SLP over BMIC

State readies to file SLP over BMIC
The Times of India

Bangalore: Chief secretary K.K. Misra and the chief minister’s principal secretary S.V. Ranganath left for New Delhi on Wednesday to file the state’s special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court order on Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project.

Industries minister P.G.R. Sindhia told reporters here after a meeting with a French delegation: “Misra and Ranganath have gone along with KIADB CEO B.A. Harish Gowda and commerce and industries under secretary M. Shivalinga Swamy to file the SLP. All of them have acted on this issue only as per instructions of the state cabinet, not in their individual capacity.’’

According to sources, two sets of SLPs will be filed in the apex court — one by Misra in his capacity as chief secretary and the other also by Misra on behalf of the government. Indications are that eminent jurist Soli Sorabjee will be taking up the case.

Sources in the government said expenses for Misra to fight the case would be borne by the government even after his superannuation in June, if the case continues. Even as the Congress camp chose to adopt a wait and watch approach, JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda chose to vent his fury on the media when his reaction was sought on the issue.

In New Delhi, Congress MP Tejeswini Sriramesh met party president Sonia Gandhi and has sought an appointment for Friday to apprise her on the issue. “BMIC project covers my Lok Sabha constituency Kanakapura. I have apprised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and he will be accompanying me to meet Sonia on Friday,’’ she told The Times of India here on phone from New Delhi.

On the present muddle, Tejeswini held chief minister N. Dharam Singh responsible, who, according to her, succumbed to Gowda’s pressure. “The CM is a committed Congressman. He should have resisted pressure from Gowda and kept the party high command informed about this,’’ she added. Tejeswini claimed Misra had cautioned the government against filing an affidavit in the high court, but his advice was overruled. “The court verdict is a moral victory to people of my constituency. Nearly 140 villages and 80 km of the total length of the project is in my constituency,’’ she maintained.

Gowda vows a long battle

Hassan: Stung by Karnataka High Court’s strictures against the government on the BMIC project, JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on Wednesday said: “The judicial system does not stop here, it’s not the final stage.’’

Gowda said he endorsed the cabinet’s decision to go in appeal in the Supreme Court. Asked if the judgment meant loss of face for the coalition, he came down heavily on the media stating that it has not understood the nitty-gritty of the judicial process.

NICE clarifies: With reference to the background information provided with the report “NICE wants to sue detractors” (page 4) on Wednesday, the company has clarified the following facts:

“It has been stated that ‘in October 1998, the agreement between KIADB and NICE, land increased to 23,846 acres’. The land requirement was never increased. The framework agreement signed on April 3, 1997, provides for only 20,193 acres of land to project and this was never increased.

Subsequently, it is mentioned that “in May 2004, KIADB Special DC notifies 29,258 acres”.

The KIADB Special DC issued the final notification in batches for 2,568 acres and 20 guntas only and since then no new notification has been issued.”