Land take-over for NICE to begin soon

The acquisition of land will begin from the Mysore end, he told reporters at the helipad here, after arriving by a helicopter to attend the Basava Jayanthi celebrations organised by the District Administration. “Farmers losing land will be given enhanced compensation. Giving them developed house sites is also under consideration.”

Officers had been ordered to identify land required for the NICE project in Mysore and Mandya and take appropriate follow-up action. “Many obstacles delayed the acquisition and work was put off as farmers wanted higher compensation,” Yeddyurappa said.

He said he had decided to cut down on travel by helicopter. Yeddyurappa travels either by helicopter or by light aircraft to attend engagements outside Bangalore. “I have decided to travel by helicopter only on Friday and Saturday and only when it is unavoidable,” he said.

The chief minister’s remark came in reply to a query if he was curbing travel by helicopter in view of the death of two chief ministers- Y S Rajasekhara Reddy of Andhra Pradesh and Dorjee Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh in chopper accidents.