HASSAN: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday continued his attack on Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in connection with the NICE and Bidadi Township Project. He said even though JDS supremo HD Devegowda had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NICE when he was the CM, the successive governments allegedly paved the way for looting money in the name of the project.
Addressing media persons at Haradanahalli, Kumaraswamy said the leader who formed Bengaluru Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project and headed the institution should be held responsible for the current crisis in NICE project. Kumaraswamy said the hands of the state government were tied due to collusion with the NICE company. Senior officials misled the court, and ultimately the project was abandoned. Even after 20 years, most of the farmers who gave up their lands for the project are yet to be compensated, he said.
The Union minister said the government is turning a blind eye towards the NICE authorities continuing to collect toll and hiking the fees exorbitantly. The NICE only developed 5km against the 111km agreed upon in the MOU. He also said he stands firm on his appeal to people not to pay the toll. Kumaraswamy said the state government has no clarity over Bidadi Township, which he said is also a ploy to loot money. He criticised the Cabinet decision to form a committee headed by a retired judge to prepare a report on the township project.
CM DK Shivakumar misled the farmers, promising a compensation of Rs 3 crore per acre against the Rs 12 crore promised earlier, Kumaraswamy said. Being a former CM, he cannot keep quiet about the hasty decisions of the current chief minister, he said, adding that he is ready to support any government if it gives good governance.
About the ongoing controversy about the induction of Nagendra into the Cabinet, Kumaraswamy said he should not take advantage of his caste to retain the minister’s post. The state government has completely neglected the farmers’ plights and the drought-like situation in the state, Kumaraswamy said.
Reacting to the controversy over toll collection on the NICE Road, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said the issue has to be resolved within the legal framework. The government had granted the concession for 30 years and 20 years have already passed, he said.
“We have already asked the NICE that the toll should not be increased excessively. However, the company approached the courts and increased the toll in accordance with the law. The government cannot go back on its decision. The issue has to be settled within the legal framework,”he said.