Govt feigns ignorance about BMIC project

PWD, the nodal implementation agency, says it has no details

Fifteen years after conceiving the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, the State government now claims it has no clue where exactly the controversial project is being implemented.

The Public Works Department (PWD), the nodal agency for the project implementation, has declared that it does not have vital details such as survey numbers, names of villages and boundaries of 20,193 acres required for the project.

Both the 1997 framework agreement (FWA) and the 2004 outline development plan (ODP) have only the theme alignment of the project, and they do not have the boundaries of the lands required for the project.

Interestingly, the government has already handed over about 6,400 acres to the project promoter Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE). Major portions of section A of the project — the peripheral road (41 km), link road (9.8 km), express way (13 km) and township 1 — are complete, and the State Cabinet recently fixed the compensation cost for 1,916 acres near Bidadi, which will be handed over to NICE. That the PWD does not possess these details came to light recently when the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Area Planning Authority (BMICAPA) sought a detailed map from the department. The BMICAPA has to incorporate the exact alignment of the project in its master plan 2015 (also called ODP), which is being revised.

Making right alignment

In order to fix the alignment in the master plan, the BMICAPA has to identify the project with the survey numbers of lands and villages where it will be implemented. The Authority will be able to ensure proper planning and development in its jurisdiction (701 sq km) spread across Bangalore Urban, Ramanagara, Mandya and Mysore, only if the project alignment is identified properly, official sources said.

The existing ODP was prepared in 2004. The ODP revision work has been entrusted to the Centre for Urban and Rural Infrastructure Planning (CURIP).

In response to the BMICAPA’s request seeking these information, the PWD in a letter dated March 21, 2011, (a copy of which is available with this paper) said it has a theme map that was approved in 2002 and that it does not have minute details of land required for the project.

 The department has also said it has not yet issued the Essential Certificate (a  document certifying the requirement of land) to the KIADB, which is acquiring land for the project. Under pressure to complete the OPD revision work, the BMICAPA had also written to the KIADB seeking details. The Board, in a letter dated May 15, 2011, said it would be able to provide the details only after the completion of the survey of the lands required for the project.

Use of satellite imageries

The BMICAPA subsequently requested the PWD to approve a project alignment developed by CURIP using satellite imageries. But the PWD has not bothered to reply so far. The PWD, sources said, actually has all the details, but it is not ready to part with information as it may lead to legal complications. Moreover, the department fears that many of its lapses would be exposed if it divulges these information, sources pointed out.