'Take over BMIC project'.

Alleging serious irregularities in the implementation of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Ltd. (NICE) project, freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy recently urged the government to take over or entrust it to a third party for proper implementation.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Doreswamy demanded a probe into the role played by Ministers and officials in causing a huge loss to the State exchequer. Mr. Doreswamy said that the company had not taken up the project as per the Frame Work Agreement (FWA) while acquiring land. Lakes, graveyards and grazing lands were encroached.

During his tenure as Urban Development Minister, D.K. Shivakumar in 2003-04, changes were approved in the project alignments without Cabinet sanction. 'The realignment and acquisition of land is illegal,' he said. The company acquired 9,471 acres against 6,999 acres required for laying roads, he said.

THE HINDU