Bengaluru, Sep 29 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Tuesday made allegations against Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and questioned how his assets had grown from Rs 4 crore in 2003 to Rs 1,413 crore in 2023.
H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged that the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) popularly known as the NICE project, was a scam worth more than Rs 3 lakh crore.
The NICE project is an infrastructure initiative aimed at improving road connectivity between Bengaluru and Mysuru through a tolled expressway and associated townships. The project is being implemented by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), promoted by Ashok Kheny.
Challenging the state government to take action against the alleged irregularities, Kumaraswamy said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should resign if the government lacked the courage to act.
Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar and his brother, former Congress MP D.K. Suresh, had misused the legislative and executive machinery in a joint operation that adversely affected farmers and facilitated large-scale irregularities in the BMIC project.
Addressing the alleged irregularities in the NICE project, Kumaraswamy claimed that the case was bigger than the 2G spectrum scam and promised to release further documents in subsequent parts of his alleged expose.
However, the allegations and the documents cited by Kumaraswamy would require examination by the relevant authorities to establish the facts.
The BMIC project was initiated in 1995 during the tenure of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda (Kumaraswamy’s father). However, Kumaraswamy alleged that the project’s original objectives were subsequently altered, turning it into a major land-related controversy that hurt farmers’ interests.
According to him, the 1997 Framework Agreement had earmarked 6,999 acres for the road project. However, in 2002, when D.K. Shivakumar was the Urban Development Minister and chairman of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Planning Authority (BMICPA), the alignment of the project was changed, allegedly paving the way for large-scale irregularities.
Citing documents, Kumaraswamy claimed that land earmarked for townships was reduced without Cabinet approval, while the land allocated for the toll road was increased to 9,468 acres. He further alleged that 10 to 12 lakes were destroyed during the process.
Kumaraswamy also raised questions over the purchase of land by D.K. Suresh in 2004, despite the land having been notified for the NICE project in 1997. He alleged that a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) was subsequently obtained from the NICE company for the same land before it was transferred to Shobha Developers.
Questioning how land notified for a public project could be acquired by the brothers, Kumaraswamy sought an explanation on the circumstances under which the company issued the NOC.
In another allegation, Kumaraswamy claimed that seven acres belonging to Siddaganga Mutt had been taken for the project, of which only one acre was used for the road. He alleged that the remaining land was not returned despite requests for it to be handed back for an orphanage.
He further claimed that the NICE company had issued NOCs to more than 420 people, including a person employed as a cook at the residence of one of the individuals concerned.
Kumaraswamy alleged that NICE promoter Ashok Kheny had not invested any money from his personal funds in the project and had instead raised loans from banks by mortgaging government land. He also referred to judicial observations that, according to him, had raised serious questions about the government’s handling of the project.
Calling for action against the alleged irregularities, Kumaraswamy urged the government to investigate the matter and fix responsibility.
He also appealed to the public not to pay toll on the NICE Road, alleging that there was an attempt to acquire and appropriate 1,25,000 acres of land through notifications.
Kumaraswamy said he would not allow the issue to end with his initial disclosures and announced plans to launch a public movement and pursue legal action. He said more documents would be released in Parts 2 and 3 of his expose.
Offering to participate in an open debate on the issue on the steps of Vidhana Soudha, Kumaraswamy challenged the state government to take action against the alleged irregularities, adding that he would personally honour D.K. Shivakumar if action was taken.
–IANS
mka/rad
