Fresh review of BMIC project

BANGALORE, DHNS:

A comprehensive and fresh review of environmental and social impacts of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project (BMIC) will be conducted in view of the recent amendment to the Environment Impact Assessment notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

Following representations by Environment Support Group (ESG), the MoEF has asked the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) to comply with the fresh notification, stated the ESG press release.

NICE is also likely to lose the controversial environmental clearance granted for the expressway component, by MoEF in August 2001.

This move comes in the wake of non-compliance with the conditions imposed and a change in the nature of the project itself.

In this direction NICE will have to submit a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, along with other documents, to be released to the public. Based on this the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board will have to call public hearings to start the environmental clearance mechanism. In view of the recent amendment, the State government should stop the ongoing activity on the project immediately, the release said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has directed Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), which is executing the BMIC project to take necessary approval of the ministry for the development of the proposed five townships and the corridor project.

The direction comes in the wake of an amended notification issued last month wherein new construction projects and industrial estates have been brought under the purview of Environment Impact Assessment notification.

THE PROJECT

Work commences at seven places

Earth excavation work begins for providing inter-change facility at Sompura, peripheral road from Hosur Road passing through the BM Kaval forest area. 

Work on 4-km stretch at Sompura (commencement point for expressway) began on February 5. 

An underpass facility at every 500 meters

I phase of the project with a stretch of 62 kms (including peripheral and link road) to be completed by August 2005

Second phase of works till Channapatna by Aug 2006

Final phase by August 2007.