BMIC Project: House Panel Meets Farmers.

The legislature committee probing the alleged irregularities in land acquisition for Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) recently interacted with farmers whose lands were acquired for the project.

The committee members, headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, visited Madevara, Gonipura and other villages near Kengeri and also a few around Bannerghatta and Hosur roads.

They heard the grievances of hundreds of farmers, who complained that excess land has been taken for the project at low prices.

A city MLA, who is a member, told Express that in most places, the farmers alleged that their land was acquired on the pretext of building a peripheral ring road, but in reality it was for forming layouts or townships. Many farmers also complained against the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) which, they said, paid less than the market price for their land.

The House committee had been constituted following allegations of acquisition of huge tracts of land exceeding the needs of the BMIC project, which is being implemented by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE). The excess land acquired by the company allowed it to indulge in real estate business, it was alleged. The committee is also probing whether the framework agreement for the NICE peripheral ring road was violated.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS