Karna stalls execution of sale deed in favour of BMIC

BANGALORE: Dealing yet another major blow to the controversial Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP), the Karnataka Government today ordered that the authorities shall not execute any more sale deed alienating land in favour of the project promoter.

By another major decision, the government directed the Karnataka Area Industrial Development Board (KIADB), the nodal agency for acquiring land for the project, not to issue no-objection certificates to farmers to facilitate transfer of lands.

The two important decisions which would cast further doubts about the project taking off and signalled another legal battle between the government and the BMICP promoter, stemmed from sale deeds executed by KAIDB officials over which an official of KAIDB has already been suspended.

Minister for Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu rejecting the demand by opposition parties-- JDU, CPI-M and others for a house committee probe or appointing an inquiry commission to probe the KAIDB affairs, told the state assembly that a Departmental inquiry has already been ordered.

Replying to the debate initiated by J C Madhuswamy (JDU) and others on the alleged irregularties that have taken place in KAIDB in issuing perliminary notifications for land acquisition and de-notification of lands, he admitted that there were several lapses in the board.

The government was thinking of amending the KAIDB Act to plug loopholes, he said. Even Speaker Krishna suggested to the government that it order a probe into the issue