The Law Department is set to take a call in about 10 days on the action to be initiated against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), including the possibility of taking over their controversial Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project.
Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said he would soon hold a final round of talks with the Advocate-General and special legal counsel who are looking into the cases related to NICE in the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court on the next course of action with respect to alleged irregularities by NICE.
Pointing out that as many as 20 cases were pending before the apex court and another 34 before the Karnataka High Court with respect to the NICE, the Minister said the State had appointed two special counsel to handle them. He had asked them to present their views on the nature of action that could be initiated against NICE and a final picture would emerge in seven to ten days, the Minister said. About the possibility of the government taking over the BMIC project, as demanded by Opposition members in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister said: “Such a possibility cannot be ruled out.”
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Listing some of the alleged irregularities pointed out by a legislature committee that looked into the issue, Mr. Jayachandra maintained that over 30,000 acres of land had been notified for acquisition for the project though the actual extent of requirement was only about 20,000 acres as per the Frame Work Agreement.It may be noted that the entire Opposition in the Assembly during the recent session held in Belagavi had urged the government to initiate action against NICE with respect to alleged irregularities in executing the BMIC project.