Kumaraswamy alleges changes to Bengaluru-Mysuru corridor plan were illegal
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that changes to the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor project departed from a 1997 framework agreement and lacked required cabinet approval. He said the modifications expanded land for the road project and affected 15 lakes, while defending his record as a former chief minister.
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that changes to the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor project departed from an earlier government agreement and were made without the required approval. Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy said the outline development plan approved by the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project Authority in February 2004 was illegal.
He said the original framework agreement had been approved by the Karnataka Cabinet in 1997 under the government led by the late Chief Minister J.H. Patel. According to Kumaraswamy, the agreement provided 20,193 acres for the project, including 6,999 acres for the road component.
He alleged that the later plan retained the overall land area but increased the portion assigned to the road project to 9,488 acres. He also said land allocations for three townships closer to Bengaluru were increased by reducing the area assigned to two other townships. Kumaraswamy claimed the original agreement did not affect any lakes, while changes to the outline plan affected 15 lakes.
He questioned whether the modifications had been returned to the Cabinet for approval and whether the project authority had been audited. He also referred to court proceedings, saying the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court had directed the project company, NICE, to conform to the framework agreement. Kumaraswamy said NICE had submitted an affidavit in the High Court promising to build the road on 6,999 acres.
Asked why the changes had not been reversed during his 20-month tenure as chief minister in 2006 and 2007, Kumaraswamy said ongoing court cases, including contempt proceedings, prevented cancellation of the outline plan at that time. He said his government had nevertheless cancelled a 2002 tripartite agreement involving the government, NICE and Nandi Economic Corridor Enterprise. That agreement had allowed land sales or mortgages and provided for arbitration in London in disputes.
The supplied material contains Kumaraswamy’s allegations but does not include responses from the Karnataka government or NICE.
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