Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at a press meet in Bengaluru on Monday.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Stating that the Cabinet’s recent decision to distribute sites in the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project corridor to land losers was against court decisions, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Monday suspected that the intention behind the distribution of 1,453 sites was to loot high-value land.Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, however, defended the government’s decision on NICE and said that it would be within the legal framework and based on legal advice. “Everything is being reviewed. If the law is violated, there is the court. Let them fight (in court),” he said, reacting sharply here.“Land here is more valuable than gold. A square foot costs between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000. Who is behind the loot of land? One day or the other, it comes to light. The decision of the Cabinet is against Supreme Court and High Court orders. However, the government is wrongly portraying that the courts will concur with the decision,” Mr. Deve Gowda told presspersons here, even as he released a three-page open letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on the BMIC project.Terming the project the “biggest fraud in the country”, he said that the Congress government in 2016 had, in an affidavit to the Supreme Court, said that developing sites in interchanges was against the framework agreements and against court decisions. “The decision will amount to contempt of courts that have repeatedly warned NICE that it is illegal to develop sites in the project area. It is not right to divert land earmarked for roads to commercial purposes or developing sites.” Areas identified for site distribution in Madavara, Kodigehalli, Kengeri, Komghatta, Varahasandra, Sompura, Pillaganahalli, Kematanahalli, U.M. Kaval, Chikkatogur, Pantharpalya, K.G. Srikantapura, and Gangondanahalli come under the road project area, he pointed out.Seeking answers from the Chief Minister, the veteran leader asked: “When were sites formed? Who gave permission for the formation of these sites? The High Court has exposed NICE’s balance sheets that show advances received in land sales, and between ₹36 crores and ₹48 crores worth of joint development agreements, which are illegal collections, along with inflated toll costs. This shows the commercial activities of the company.”Mr. Deve Gowda said that the court, while observing that the project served the personal interests of the promoters rather than a public purpose and that there is a need for a forensic audit, also suspected that the government is allowing the promoters to monetise properties and acquire profits illegally.Responding to Mr. Deve Gowda, the Chief Minister told presspersons in Devanahalli that it was the responsibility of the government to protect farmers. “Past governments have signed agreements, and farmers have lost property. Farmers have to be protected. Even I am aware of it. People should have common sense,” he said. Published - September 07, 2026 08:42 pm IST
