Twists and turns in BMIC route

Twists and turns in BMIC route
Here are some important facts about the tussle between former PM H D Deve Gowda and NICE, implementation agency for Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor

GOTTIGERE LAKE
Gottigere lake located in Gottigere village on Bannerghatta Road is said to be more than 500 years old. It is a live tank and forms the source of discharge to the downstream lakes like Hulimaavu, Madiwala and Bellandur. The total area of the lake is 14.98 hectares and the waterspread area as per Lake Development Authority is 8.52 hectares. NICE, which entered into an agreement with the state government in April 1997, decided to build a peripheral road. This alignment passes through Gottigere Lake, bisecting the same at grade. Based on a petition by environmentalist Suresh Heblikar, high court in June 1999 ordered NICE not to lay any road bisecting the lake, preventing or disturbing the inflow of water into the lake. The order was accepted by NICE and even the PWD in June 2002 accepted the NICE proposal to build an alternative. A realignment for building peripheral road was proposed. However, due to various reasons the matter is pending in the high court. TIMELINE
The Kalyani Group, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin & SAB Eng (both US companies), sign contract with then chief minister H D Deve Gowda in 1995
After Congress-JD(S) coalition government came to power in May 2004, Gowda starts dashing off letters to then CM N Dharam Singh to stop the project
His son H D Revanna, who was PWD minister, constitutes a committee under retired engineer K C Reddy to review the land grant to NICE
On May 3, 2005, Karnataka high court delivers verdict allowing NICE to go ahead with the project
Coalition government does everything possible to stall the project despite court giving green signal
On April 20, 2006, apex court upholds high court order and slams the government which is now headed by Gowda’s son H D Kumaraswamy. The court observes: “The entire appeal was with mala fide intention.’’ It imposes penalty of Rs 5 lakh on the state government for bringing before it with frivolous arguments an appeal against the high court
In June, following release of documents by BMIC promoters NICE that Gowda’s family owned lands near the project, Gowda says he is willing to “slit his throat’’ if it is found that he or his family members own any land around BMIC
July 3, 2006, Kumaraswamy government files petition before Supreme Court seeking review of its April 20 order and rehearing of matter. Petition is dismissed
November 2006, NICE files contempt petition against government
In August 2007, government orders that Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board shall not execute any more sale deed alienating land in favour of project promoter, NICE. It also files an additional affidavit in SC seeking permission to complete BMIC by Global Infrastructure Consortium (GIC), replacing NICE