PWD to remain ‘NICE’ for now

PWD to remain ‘NICE’ for now
Deccan Herald

Government proposes. Nice disposes. What is the PWD department’s punishment to the promoters of the BMIC for going ahead with the inauguration despite “a letter of request” against it? “We’ll put them in place at the right time,” is all that PWD officials are willing to say.

The Public Works Department (PWD) had pointed out to the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) in a letter on Thursday that it was throwing open a section of the peripheral road without furnishing detailed completion report of the project.

Mr P B Mahishi, Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, says 6.6.2 clause of the 67-page framework agreement signed on April 3, 1997 reads that the department should be informed on Phase I, II and on completion of the road with drawing and technical specifications when it is deemed fit for motor vehicle travel.

The clause, further states that if the government fails to respond to the notice within 60 days, it can be deemed as acceptance of the completion of work.

Mr Mahishi adds that the technical agreement is bound by a clause of secrecy upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court. He, however, on mutual consent with the NICE MD Ashok Kheny wants the agreement of secrecy amended and the document furnished on the internet for the benefit of the public.

Meanwhile, senior officials at the PWD allege that NICE with the backing of powerful politicians has been able to acquire excess land of up to 2,450 acres particularly on the periphery of Bangalore, “as the previous two to three governments slept over the issue.”

They also point out that Thursday’s communication was a letter of request and not a statutory notice. This, because, they feel that Friday’s inauguration is a smaller issue compared to the ‘excess land’ taken over by NICE in the name of 16 flyovers.