NICE hits MUDA roadblock

NICE hits MUDA roadblock
Deccan Herald

High drama was witnessed on Thursday at the site where Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises plans to launch its highway project from Mysore end on Friday as the engineers of Mysore Urban Development Authority prevented NICE officials from ......

High drama was witnessed on Thursday at the site where Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises plans to launch its highway project from Mysore end on Friday as the engineers of Mysore Urban Development Authority prevented NICE officials from taking posesssion of the land identified for bhoomi pooja.

But NICE managing director Ashok Kheny said he would go ahead with the function “come what may” as he had paid money for the land and had the apex court’s permission to proceed with the project.

The NICE engineers and workers, who had come from Bangalore for the arrangements, went to Devanoor Layout in Rajiv Nagar III Stage on Outer Ring Road that had been identified as the ‘launch point’ of BMIC from Mysore.

Since Kheny had announced here recently that the work will begin from July 7, the engineers of Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) went to the spot and prevented NICE engineers and town planners from taking possession of the land (about 15 acres according to NICE sources) for ground levelling work and putting up a pandal for Friday’s launch. The City police also rushed to the site after MUDA sought protection for its property.

MUDA officials told NICE engineers that the land cannot be handed over unless the KIADB, which owes over Rs 85 lakh to the MUDA, clears the dues. But NICE officials argued that they had already paid money to KIADB for the land and hence the land belonged to them.

Mr Venkataramanappa, Advisor, Town Planning, NICE told Deccan Herald, “NICE had paid money to KIADB for the land. Since the Board has money (in crores), it should have paid the Authority and taken possession of the land. Despite our announcement, the Board did not arrange to take over the land.”

After some arguments, the NICE engineers and their workers left the site, equipment et al. Though there was no tension, a police force has been deployed at the site.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) K T Balakrishna told this paper that the police force was taken to the site following MUDA’s request for protection. “There was no trouble at the site. We went there to protect the property,” he said. When contacted, a NICE spokesperson in Bangalore said the work will certainly commence from Mysore on Friday.