NICE all set to open road, govt says it can’t

NICE all set to open road, govt says it can’t
Deccan Herald

Even as the promoters of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project were firm on inaugurating a stretch of the peripheral road on Friday, the State government shot off a letter on Thursday asking them to desist from opening the stretch without its permission.

Even as the promoters of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project were firm on inaugurating a stretch of the peripheral road on Friday, the State government shot off a letter on Thursday asking them to desist from opening the stretch without its permission.

Interestingly, the government has written another letter to the project promoter Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) stating that it would provide land to the project as per the court directions and the framework agreement.

NICE has declared that it will go ahead with the inauguration of the stretch on Friday.

NICE Managing Director Ashok Kheny told Deccan Herald that he had received three letters from the Public Works Department. “In one letter, the department has mentioned about giving the necessary land as per the court direction. In another, it says we need to take its permission to inaugurate the stretch of the road as it has to inspect the construction quality. It has also asked us to submit the plans and drawings to it. In the third letter, the department says we cannot go ahead with the inauguration without its permission and approval of these documents.”

Mr Kheny argued that as per the framework agreement, the government did not have the power to issue such directions.

BJP pressure

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s move on release of land came after 10 days of rigid stance. On his direction, the PWD has written to NICE that the government would release land to the project as per the court directions. Sources said Mr Kumaraswamy’s move followed mounting pressure by the BJP ministers against taking over the project.

The letter, signed by the PWD project co-ordinator said the land would be released as per the framework agreement and the directions of the court. The government was fully ready to co-operate with NICE on the project, it said.

Mr Kheny, who claims to have received the letter on Wednesday itself, said: “I do not understand what the government is trying to convey through the letter. I found it very confusing.” When enquired, the Chief Minister’s Office refused to divulge details of the letter. “The PWD was asked to send the letter and we are not aware of the contents,” they said. Action on ground zero

Meanwhile, there was action aplenty on ground zero on Thursday. The conflict between NICE and the farmers continued throughout the day. Tempers initially cooled after NICE began tarring work on the service road of approximately 5 km connecting Hemmigepura to the Kengeri stretch of the corridor, on Thursday morning. However, the protesters resorted to a road blockade by evening, accusing NICE of not keeping their promise to build the road from Kengeri Cross to Hemmigepura. According to taluk panchayat member Krishnappa, one of the leaders of the protest, NICE began work from the Hemmigepura side, but ignored the other end at Kengeri Cross. The farmers started protesting and blocked work, even as only 3 km of the service road was tarred.

When the equipment and NICE workers were moved to the Kengeri end, the police intervened.

The threat of arrest made by police angered the farmers, and an open skirmish between the agitators and the police ensued. Finally, Mr Jyothiprakash Mirji, IG, Central Range, intervened and pacified the protesters. No case was filed against the farmers.

Incidentally, three agitators were arrested on Wednesday night, but were let off the same night, at the Talaghatta police station.

The agitators promised they would allow the inauguration on Friday, but threatened to disrupt vehicular movement on the road from Saturday if NICE failed to deliver on their promise.

However, a consensus between NICE and the farmers was yet to be reached. Mr Kheny said the company would meet only two demands of the farmers — construction of the service road from the corridor to Hemmigepura, and recharging of borewells in Hemmigepura and surrounding villages. Mr Kheny said that the NICE would not develop the road between Hemmigepura and Kengeri Cross, nor would it issue road user passes to villagers as it is a toll road.

“Developing of the road from the village to Kengeri Cross is the responsibility of the government. Why should we be penalised for a corrupt government?” asked Mr Kheny.

Meanwhile, Mr Kumaraswamy said full security would be provided for the inauguration programme, but stated that he would not be attending. He said he had not received any invitation from NICE either.

CM FOR JUDICIAL PROBE

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said he was ready for a probe by a sitting High Court judge into all charges levelled against him vis-a-vis the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project issue.

“Let the truth come out. I am ready for the probe,” he said even as he reiterated he was firm on the decision to take over the project. Kumaraswamy said he would write to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph to conduct an inquiry.

D-Day, Friday the 16th

4 KSRP battalions, 6 inspectors, 12 sub-inspectors and 100 constables posted

Pooja and other rituals from 8 am onwards

Official inauguration at 12:30 pm

15,000 guests invited

Politicians’ participation doubtful

Name of chief guest not revealed

Toll not to be collected till entire peripheral road ready