JD (S) launches ad blitz against NICE

JD (S) launches ad blitz against NICE
Deccan Herald

Launching a campaign against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), the JD (S) has issued an advertisement in the media alleging that the promoters of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) are planning to illegally raise Rs 4,500 crore by selling excess land of 975 acres and buffer land of 749 acres around Bangalore in the implementation of the first phase of the project itself.

The advertisement, which seeks to trigger a public debate on the party’s stand that the project should be taken over by the government, maintains that it is possible to raise Rs 10,000 crore if the government itself takes over the project and auctions the entire excess land under various phases of the project. The money raised by auctioning the excess land by the government could be used for development of infrastructure facilities as well as social and economic development of poor people in the region, besides increasing the compensation to farmers whose lands have been acquired for the project, the party argues.

Though NICE was spending only Rs 5.37 crore for constructing a km of road under the first phase involving 41-km peripheral road, 9.8-km link road and 12-km expressway, in reality the state would have spent Rs 72.46 crore per km due to the selling of excess land by the NICE, the party argued.

The company which did not even have construction equipment was implementing the project through sub-leasing arrangement, the party alleged.

The party demanded that the government should not entertain those who want to loot the state in the name of BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer).

Interestingly, the JD (S) made it clear that the party was in total agreement with the courts which have ruled that NICE requires 20,193 acres of land for implementing the project.

Despite this, the vested interests were indulging in misinformation campaign alleging that the government was opposed to providing 20,193 acres to the project, the party alleged.

JD(S) claims

*Only 2,471 acres required as per court order for the first phase of BMIC project, but NICE already possesses 2,894 acres

*NICE still demanding an additional 791 acres around the peripheral road for the first phase.

*NICE spending only Rs 333 crore for construction of the first phase and planning to make a profit of Rs 4,500 crore by selling the excess land under this phase.

*NICE bought lands from farmers at Rs 3-8 lakh per acre; now planning to sell them off at Rs 3-8 crore per acre