HDK to tour villages along NICE stretch, meet affected families from October 2

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Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy during the interaction with farmers affected by NICE project on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday announced that he will visit villages along the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Road and meet all the families affected by the project from October 2.

Mr. Kumaraswamy interacted with farmers who lost their land for the NICE project and received their representations. He promised the farmers that he would fight against the project.

Addressing the media after the interaction, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the court had observed that the NICE Road toll was being collected illegally, but the State government was giving reasons instead of addressing the issue.

“Myself and H.D. Deve Gowda have both written to the Chief Minister about NICE toll collection, but we haven’t received any response,” he said.

Lashing out at the government, Mr. Kumaraswamy alleged that they were protecting promoter of NICE Road, Ashok Kheny, despite the High Court having made strong observations about the NICE project, and questioned their continued support.

The Union Minister said he would visit all the villages from Madavara to Electronics City along the NICE stretch and speak to the affected families. “If the government’s stand remains the same even after I complete visiting the villages, I will decide my next step to protest the issue,” he said.

He also said he would make a detailed presentation on what had happened in the past with regard to the project and who had made what modifications to the initial framework agreement.

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