The edits that Kumaraswamy claims led to a “fraud” of NICE

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy at a press meet in Bengaluru on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

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 led by the late JH Patel in 1997, said Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who termed it “illegal”.

The BMICPA was then headed by Chief Minister DK 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 its amendments did not go back to the Cabinet as per the procedure. In 1999, when the petitioner sought an amendment, the government told him that Cabinet approval was required for any amendments. The Karnataka High Court and the High Court asked NICE to conform to the FWA,” he added.

Despite this, he said, while FWA had provided 20,193 acres to the BMICPA, including 6,999 acres for the road project, as approved by the government in 1997, the development master plan had been modified. He said though the total land extent was kept at 20,193 acres, the area for the road project was increased to 9,488 acres. Besides, he pointed out that the BMICPA has increased the master plan of development to the extent of land in three wards closer to Bengaluru by reducing the extent of the area in two wards.

Affected lakes

“FWA has not affected any lake but 15 lakes have been affected due to modifications in the Master Development Plan. Modifications were made where they wanted and it was against FWA, the previous decision of the Cabinet and the orders of the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court. NICE submitted an affidavit to the High Court that they will build a road on 6,999, who gave permission to this cabinet? Was there an audit by BMICPA?” asked Mr. Kumaraswamy.

“Why no action sooner?”

Asked why these decisions were not reviewed during his 20-month tenure as chief minister in 2006-2007, Mr Kumaraswamy said: “The proposed development plan could not be specifically scrapped because of ongoing court cases, including contempt. All have now been cleared. However, my government has canceled the tripartite agreement signed between the government in August 02 Corridor, Nand02 NICE, and the sale of Nand02 NICE The agreement also allowed for arbitration in London in the event of a dispute.

Published – 29 Sep 2026 22:14 IST