CM urged to scrap BMIC project

BANGALORE, DHNS:

The Environment Support Group (ESG) has welcomed the recent High Court (HC) order, quashing land acquisition for the townships of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project.

Observing that the HC order is a “critical examination as to whether the controversial BMIC proposal of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) is feasible, considering that township development was only a means of raising funds so as to subsidise the expressway costs,” the ESG urged Chief Minister S M Krishna to withdraw support to the BMIC project.

The order of Justice Chandrashekaraiah is to only allow land acquisition the Bangalore-Mysore stretch for the four-lane expressway that has been initiated by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. “The CM must now ensure the expressway -- State Highway 17 -- works are completed post-haste. Such development would not only boost the economy but also protect the eco-system,” said ESG coordinator Leo F Saldanha.