Karnataka Cabinet Approves Housing Sites for 1,453 BMIC Affected Farmers

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved housing sites for 1,453 farmers who lost their land to the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, commonly known as BMIC.

The decision was taken on Thursday, September 4, following directions from the Supreme Court. It also comes just days after the Karnataka High Court strongly criticised the handling of the long delayed project.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said farmers who lost less than one acre of land would receive a 1,200 square feet site. Those who lost more than one acre would be allotted a 2,400 square feet site.

Parameshwara said the compensation in the form of housing sites was not originally included in the Framework Agreement. However, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise, or NICE, had agreed to provide the sites.

According to him, NICE has already developed 574 plots, while the remaining plots are awaiting approval. Four locations have been identified for the development of the additional sites, which are expected to be allotted within two months.

The Cabinet decision comes shortly after a strongly worded Karnataka High Court judgment concerning the implementation of the BMIC project by NICE.

The court criticised NICE for failing to fulfil its legal commitments despite acquiring large areas of land for the project. It also questioned the state government’s failure to take effective action over the matter.

The project has remained a contentious issue for decades. Thousands of acres were acquired from landowners for the infrastructure corridor, but several landowners claimed they remained without proper compensation for years.

A number of affected landowners approached the High Court seeking cancellation of the land acquisition. In 2025, a single judge bench ruled in their favour and cancelled the acquisition. A division bench later upheld the decision on July 29.

In its judgment, the High Court said the situation showed how farmers had lost their land and livelihoods without receiving compensation.

The court also accused NICE of failing to meet its legal obligations and criticised the state government for not taking adequate action.

The judgment described the BMIC project as potentially one of the biggest scams in Karnataka. It questioned how private interests were allowed to benefit from public resources and land while concerns relating to the environment, ecology and public interest remained unresolved.

The issue has also drawn political criticism. Janata Dal Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy has repeatedly attacked the government over the project.

However, much of the political debate has focused on allegations surrounding toll collections by NICE, while concerns over the project’s long delays, land acquisition and alleged failure to meet its commitments have received comparatively less attention.

The latest Cabinet decision is expected to provide some relief to farmers who have been waiting for a resolution to the land dispute for years.