Expressway to go on, rules SC

Gowda, son accused of scuttling project
Expressway to go on, rules SC
Deccan Herald

In its modified order, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Ltd, the promoter of the Rs 2,250-crore Bangalore-Mysore expressway, to sell or alienate and mortgage land in its possession for the execution of the project while the promoter alleged political interference in the project.

In its modified order, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Ltd, the promoter of the Rs 2,250-crore Bangalore-Mysore expressway, to sell or alienate and mortgage land in its possession for the execution of the project while the promoter alleged political interference in the project.

This decision of the apex court came in an interim order issued by a three-judge bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal, Justice Arijit Pasyat and Justice B N Srikrishna. The bench said that the project would go on and alienation or sale or mortgage of land would be subject to the outcome of appeals pending before it.

The promoter’s counsel, Mr Dushyant Dave, alleged that former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Revanna, a minister in the State, are trying to scuttle the project for political reasons. All sorts of trouble is being created for the company to delay the project, he added.

Till date the state government has not rescinded the agreement for execution of the project entered into 1997, Mr Dave said, adding that even Mr Deve Gowda had written a letter to his son Revanna, who is PWD and Energy Minister, against the project.

Later, a committee to review it said 2,450 acres of land or any surplus land should not form part of the project, the counsel said, adding that the company needs lands to develop the township and provide interconnectivity. Referring to the resignation of Mr N R Narayana Murthy, Infosys Chief Mentor, from the committee which was working on the construction of Bangalore international airport, Mr Dave said that Mr Deve Gowda has been trying to scuttle every project.

This was stoutly objected to by Karnataka counsel Anil Divan saying that Mr Dave was going beyond the issue in question before the court. Mr Divan said the State government was in favour of the project if NICE did not ask for 2,450 acres of surplus land.

Pending projects

Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for an industries association, said several projects have been pending since 1972 and they should be allowed to continue without delay. “The father and son cannot stop the projects,” Mr Rohtagi said. The next hearing will be held on January 10 next year.

On July 19, the Supreme Court asked NICE to go ahead with the construction on the condition that it did not alienate the lands acquired for the project in any manner. On May 13, the apex court stayed a judgment of the Karnataka High Court giving a green signal for the development of the project.

The apex court had allowed NICE to develop the project in terms of the interim order passed by the Karnataka High Court on January 11. The HC had said NICE will be at liberty to continue with the development activities but it should not alienate any of the lands in any manner allotted to it for the implementation of the project.

The company has already invested about Rs 400 crore for development of the first phase of the project.

BANGALORE-MYSORE CORRIDOR

SC allows promoter to sell acquired land

State has not rescinded pact for project execution

Review panel said 2,450 acres should not form

part of project

Promoter counsel refers to Mr Narayana Murthy’s resignation

Next hearing in the case to be on January 10