BANGALORE: Sticking to its statement, the state government on Thursday ordered a Lokayukta probe into the mode of approval given to Mumbai-based SKIL Infrastructure Limited to develop a multi-product SEZ in Nandagudi by the previous H D Kumaraswamy government.
The government in its order has said that an investigation was necessary as it felt that the approvals given for SEZ by the State High Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC) and the Cabinet, both headed by then CM H D Kumaraswamy, were undesirable and non-transparent.
“The approval was given even though all the departments concerned opposed it,’’ the order states. The Kumaraswamy government had cleared the Rs 15,000 crore proposal to come up on 5,000 hectares spread over 36 villages at Nandagudi in Hoskote taluk, which is 30 km away from the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) and 55 km from the city. The government has asked the Lokayukta to probe on matters pertaining to: Whether SEZ norms prescribed by the Centre have been followed?, Whether facilities extended to SKIL are extended to other SEZs in the state? Had any mal-transactions taken place during approval of this particular SEZ? At present, this proposal is before the Centre’s Board of Approval for clearance.
Once the BoA clears, the company has plans to immediately take up the land acquisition process and complete the entire project within six years. According to sources, the BMRDA, which is planning to build a township in Nandagudi, has opposed the SEZ project as it has already began tendering process for the township.
Likewise, Revenue, Urban Development, BWSSB and even KIADB are said to have opposed the project citing various reasons.
The Government has also ordered a Lokayukta probe into the allegations surrounding construction of Garuda Mall on Magrath Road.