Gowda plots to expropriate BMIC

BMIC: Gowdas to continue fight despite SC verdict
The Indian Express

BANGALORE, NOVEMBER 3: Despite the Supreme Court’s rejection of Karnataka’s review petition on the Rs 2,250-crore Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his father former prime minister HD Devegowda today indicated that they will continue their fight against the project.

Now, get ready for Hubballi, Belagavi, KalaburgiMeanwhile, Karnataka sits on its new infrastructure policy Bangalore in fast lane, by mid-’08Karnataka logs out as bandh complete, 12 hurt in Belgaum Gowda’s own country

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court had on Thursday rejected the Karnataka government’s plea for a review of the court’s April 20, 2006 order giving a go-ahead for implementation of the country’s first private expressway project.

Following the verdict, Janata Dal Secular leader H D Devegowda, who sanctioned the project as CM in 1995, but ardently opposed the project since his party’s return to power in 2004, said “there is still a possibility of the government getting a favourable verdict”.

The JDS is considering a curative petition for the time being, but is even ready for a do-or-die effort to introduce a legislation to take over the project, even without the support of coalition partner BJP, party sources said. “Efforts will be made to present the case effectively to get a favourable verdict in the interest of the people,” Devegowda said.

“The government moved the court to protect the people’s rights and efforts will continue in this direction. The next course of action will be decided after consulting legal experts,” Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said.

The Karnataka government has since 2004 argued against the private infrastructure project on the grounds that the deal itself was signed fraudulently and that land in excess of requirement had been acquired for the project by the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE). The 10-year-old BMIC project has however been cleared in four different legal forums—twice in the Karnataka High Court and twice in the Supreme Court.

In a statement NICE said: “The Supreme Court verdict is a gift to the people of Karnataka. The company requests all political parties to support the BMIC project irrespective of political differences, since we have promised that our road and facilities will give the same quality of service to all.”