Govt, NICE trade charges over road damage

Days before a nine-km stretch of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project’s peripheral road was to be opened, farmers protesting the project have allegedly damaged the road. CM HD Kumaraswamy has ordered an inquiry even as the state government and the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) blame each other for the damage.

The protesters dug up the road on Saturday and camped at the site till Monday, demanding improvement of roads around the project and better access to the BMIC road.

In its police complaint, NICE blamed anti-social elements for the damage and sought police protection for the opening of the road on June 16. Kumaraswamy, however, said the company could have damaged the roads since it was dug up using heavy machinery. ‘‘Farmers have no JCB machines. However, I have ordered an inquiry,’’ he said.

Officials from NICE said the protesters were demanding repair of roads that fell within the purview of the Public Works Department.