Nice agrees to pay rate fixed by panel to land losers

The Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Limited (NICEL) has submitted to the High Court that it is ready to pay the land owners the rate fixed by the price fixation committee (PFC) for the land acquired by it in Bidadi and other areas in Bangalore South Taluk for the project.

Hearing a petition by NICEL, which had moved the High Court challenging the PFC decision and methodology adopted in fixing the price for the land acquired in Gonipura, Tippur and Shigehalli in Bengaluru South taluk, the division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice R B Budhihal disposed of the petition following the submission of the petitioners.

The petitioners had contended that they were not consulted while fixing the land price. However, when the petition was being heard by the division bench headed by the Chief Justice, NICEL made a submission agreeing upon the price fixed by the committee as per Section 29 (2) of KIAD Act, which envisages fixation of land price by consulting the land owners.

Accordingly NICEL in a release dated December 16, 2014, NICEL has said that it has submitted before the High Court that it never had any issue with the PFC headed by the then Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore rural district.

The release also said that Rs 41 lakh per acre of land and a site measuring 2,400 sq feet for the land losers as compensation fixed by the committee is acceptable considering larger interest of people and the land losers.

Considering this, the bench disposed of the matter. However, counsel for KIADB said NICEL has agreed to pay compensation as fixed by the committee, but this will only be for the Bidadi township. “The methodology adopted in fixing the price by the Committee is still being challenged by NICEL,” he said.

About 18,000 acres of lands, were earmarked for acquisition for the BMIC project taken up by NICEL. With land price fixed between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, the project faced stiff opposition from the farmers and the project completed so far by the firm is the peripheral ring road around Bengaluru.