From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 5: In a bid to smoothen the process of land acquisition for the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project being implemented by the Ashok Kheny’s Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Ltd and also to weaken JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda’s hold over the Vokkaliga community, which is predominant in the Old Mysore region, the B S Yeddyurappa regime has decided to offer a huge and manifold increase in the rates of compensation to the farmers.

As per the decision taken by the State Cabinet at a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in Bangalore on Thursday, the State Government would now be offering a substantially high special rate compensation ranging from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 41 lakh per acre to 1916 acres in the three villages of Gonipura and Thippur located on the outskirts of Kengeri in Bangalore South taluk and Shigehalli village as against the paltry sum of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh paid in 1998, which of course was substantially high at the time.

The Yeddyurappa regime, which has sought to blunt the campaign of Deve Gowda and his son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who have been waging a relentless battle against the BJP Government by espousing the cause of the farmers in the Vokkaliga dominated Bangalore Urban and Rural districts as well as Ramanagaram and Mysore districts, by deciding to pay almost 40 times more compensation taking shelter under the Supreme Court’s veiled attack for not having the courage to acquire the land merely because of the opposition from farmers.

''The Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure project is an important expressway which has been inordinately delayed. It was initiated during 1994-96 when Deve Gowda was the Chief Minister. Unfortunately, the project has been bogged down and delayed due to controversies even though several chief ministers have come and gone. It is mired in litigation from High Court to Supreme Court," explained the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar, who is also the Urban Development Minister.

The land in Gonipura and Thippur villages located on the outskirts of Kengeri in Bangalore South Taluk was acquired in 1998 by the NICE for the BMIC project at the rate of Rs 1.5 lakh per acre and in Shigehalli at Rs 1 lakh per acre.

Addressing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting, Suresh Kumar said that the Cabinet approved a special rate based on the recommendations of an advisory committee on land compensation fixation headed by the Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner.

While farmers in Gonipura and Thippur whose land had been acquired would now get Rs 41 lakh per acre, those in Shigehalli would get Rs 40 lakh per acre. The NICE would pay compensation to farmers.

For lands less than a acre acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), farmers would get a 30x40 sqft site in the developed area and those above that would be given 40x60 sq.ft. site, the Minister said.

The Cabinet’s decision was apparently aimed at curbing the campaign launched by the JD(S) which had accused the NICE of acquiring land in excess and raw deal for farmers.

15,000 kms of roads to be developed

The State Cabinet also decided to develop 15,000 kms of main roads in the State at a cost of Rs 13,363 crore in the next two years.

While Karnataka’s share is around Rs 8,000 crore and the remaining would be funded by the Union government.

Suresh Kumar said district-to-district, district-to-taluk and taluk-to-taluk roads would be given priority in development, widening, strengthening and upgradation of these 15,000 kms of national highway, state highway and rural roads. Of these, toll would be imposed in respect of 1,428 kms of roads.

The State would raise Rs 2,400 crore from private sources, while Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited, which would execute the project, would generate funds of Rs 2,000 crore, the minister said.

He said an empowered committee had been formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to identify the roads, works to be taken up and monitor the progress every month.

The State Cabinet had given administrative sanction for development of the 27-km Sandur-Hospet road at a cost of Rs 96 crore, and 46.65 km Kudligi-Sandur-Toranagal road, both in Bellary region, at a cost of Rs 140 crore. Toll would be imposed on these roads, he said.