137 crucial files missing, 20 lakes illegally handed over to NICE: report

December 3, 2016

Belagavi, Dec 3: The Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project was the first-ever Public-Private Partnership project in Karnataka but has been mired in controversy ever since it was conceived.

Hulimavu

The project envisages constructing 111 km of expressway between Bengaluru and Mysuru, a 41-km peripheral road, a 9.8-km link road (both around Bengaluru) and five townships under Build-Own-Operate-Transfer basis.

An Assembly committee headed Law Minister T?B?Jayachandra constituted to probe irregularities in the implementation of the project has come out with several recommendation and observations. The panel has 11 members from both the ruling and the Opposition parties.

The report says that several government files pertaining to the BMIC project have gone missing and this has also led to irregularities in the implementation of the project.

As many as 137 files, which have to be preserved permanently going by the importance of the content, have gone missing. The files pertaining to the stamps and registration, the minutes of chief ministers' meetings, petitions filed in the Supreme Court, illegal mining, transfer of government land to the promoter among others have disappeared.

Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), promoters of the project, used 20 lakes extending over 213 acres for construction of the road.

Action should be initiated against those officials who illegally transferred the lakes to the company, the report says.

Thecommittee

An 11-member committee headed by T?B?Jayachandra was constituted in September 2014.

The panel held a total of 27 formal and 10 informal meetings.

The committee's terms of reference were to enquire into misappropriation in implementing agreements entered on April 3, 1997, for the project and violations of agreement conditions by the promoters and court orders.

Other observations

NICE violated framework agreement and constructed asphalt road instead of concrete road.

Objective of the project was to build an expressway between Bengaluru and Mysuru with five townships. However, even after 19 ye-ars, the project has not progressed beyond Bengaluru.

Promoters in the name of secrecy clause refused to furnish documents pertaining to the project to the government.

The project cost, investment details have not been provided to the government despite comfort letter for financial closure being issued to the promoters.

According to the agreement, stamp duty exemption had been given for 5,688 acres, but it was extended to 14,337 acres.

Illegal stone quarrying has been done at the project site and government has not been paid royalty of Rs 250 crore.

Former PWD?Secretary C?R?Ramesh, who represented the government during the initial stages of the project, is now one of the directors of NICE

NICE?has given Rs 274.99 crore as compensation to farmers, but 58% have rejected the same.

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May 4,2024

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Mangaluru, May 4: A tragic incident unfurled last evening in Subrahmanya of Kadaba taluk in Dakshina Kananda, where a young gentleman, who had recently entered the bonds of matrimony a mere ten days hence, met his untimely demise due to a lightning strike.

As twilight descended, a tempestuous thunderstorm, accompanied by billowing rain clouds, cast its shadow over the locale.

Somasundar was diligently engaged in the task of piling up dried nuts in the yard to shield them from the impending deluge, when fate cruelly intervened, subjecting him to the fatal force of a lightning bolt.

Despite the expeditious efforts to convey him to Kadaba Community Hospital subsequent to his sudden indisposition, he tragically succumbed to his injuries. 

Somasundar, who operated a car washing enterprise in proximity to Subrahmanya, is mourned by his mother, sister, and wife.

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April 29,2024

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Bengaluru, Apr 29: HD Revanna, the father of Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna, has accused rivals of creating a conspiracy out of "old videos", a comment that is likely to raise a bigger row over his son's alleged link to the obscene videos.

A woman yesterday filed a police case against Prajwal Revanna and his father over alleged sexual assault. Prajwal Revanna, the Janata Dal (Secular) MP and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has denied the latest allegations and also filed a police complaint over circulation of obscene videos, which he said were morphed.

Prajwal Revanna left for Germany on Saturday morning after voting in the Lok Sabha elections a day earlier.

"I know what kind of conspiracy is going on. I am not someone who'll get scared and run away. They have released something that was 4-5 years old. Expelling him from the party is left to the party high command," HD Revanna said.

When it was pointed out that an FIR has been registered against him too, he said, "There is politics, I don't want to comment. They (Congress) are in government and they will do whatever they want."

"All these things are not just today, the Deve Gowda family in the last 40 years (has been targeted by) Congress. CoD (now CID), Lokayukta probe, we have been facing for the last 40 years... I don't want to react to anything...let them take action in accordance with law," he said, adding that he hasn't spoken to Deve Gowda on the issue.

"Since the special investigation team is looking into the case, I will not react any further," HD Revanna said.

Yesterday, a first information report was filed against the father-son duo on charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the dignity of a woman.

The survivor alleged both sexually assaulted her, and when Revanna's wife was not home, he touched her inappropriately and used to sexually assault her. The complainant alleged Prajwal Revanna also misbehaved with her daughter over a video call. "My daughter blocked his number after repeated calls," the complainant said.

The latest FIR comes when Prajwal Revanna is already in the middle of a controversy after some objectionable videos went viral on social media allegedly involving him.

Prajwal Revanna is seeking a fresh term in the Lok Sabha from as a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from Hassan.

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May 4,2024

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mullai Muhilan MP said that election for the South West Teachers and Graduates constituencies will be held on June 3.

The notification for the same will be issued on May 9. The last date for filing nominations is May 16. The nominations must be submitted to Regional Commissioner in Mysuru and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is May 17.

The counting of votes will be held on June 6.

As of December 30, 2023 there are 6753 voters in DK district in the South West Teachers Constituency out of which 4520 are women. On the other hand, there are 16,869 graduate voters in the district for the South West graduates constituency.

The voters can submit their application for enrollment in electoral list of the South West Teachers and graduates constituency till May 6. The applications can be submitted at Mangaluru City Corporation or all the taluk offices.

Bulk applications can be submitted by Bar Association, Doctors association, Chartered Accountants Association, registered engineers association for the graduates constituency.

Those who are graduates prior to November 11, 2020 can enroll for voters list in the graduates constituency  by submitting Form 18 along with photo copy of marks card, Aadhaar card, voters' identity card and residential address.

For getting oneself enrolled in the teachers constituency voters, an individual should be teaching for minimum three years prior to November 1, 2023 in high school or higher educational institutions.

For the teachers constituency, educational institutions can submit applications in bulk. If wrong details are furnished in these applications, then they will be punishable under Section 31 of Representation of People Act, warned the DC.

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