Modifications that Kumaraswamy claims led to NICE ‘scam’
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICPA) deviated illegally from its original 1997 framework agreement. He claims these modifications led to a 'scam' involving land allocation and environmental damage to local lakes.
Why it matters
The allegations involve high-profile political figures and questions of transparency in large-scale infrastructure development projects.
The outline development plan, approved by the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project Authority (BMICPA) in February 2004, deviated from the original framework agreement signed by the JD(S) government headed by the late J.H. Patel in 1997, said Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who called it “illegal.”
The BMICPA was then headed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who was also the Urban Development Minister, he said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“The original framework agreement (FWA) was approved by the Cabinet in 1997 and the modification to it did not go back to the Cabinet as per procedure. In 1999, when the promoter sought modification, the government had told him Cabinet approval was needed for any modifications. The Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court had asked NICE to conform to the FWA,” he added.
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