State plans 1,000-acre park for defence units

The Karnataka government plans to develop a 1,000 acre plot in Chitradurga district for defence manufacturing industry in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, a top official said today.

Karnataka commerce and industries secretary V P Baligar said consultants have recommended such an initiative near the second campus of the Indian Institute of Science, and a new testing range of DRDO, both coming up in Chitradurga (180 km from Bangalore) on 1,500 acres and over 4,000 acres, respectively. Addressing a special session on promotion and development of aerospace sector in Karnataka, organised by CII, he said the government has acquired 1,000 acres at Devanahalli, near Bangalore, for an aerospace industrial park. “We have already acquired 1,000 acres. Farmers have given their land, and we have given them very good compensation.”

Within this proposed park, an area of 250 acres is planned to be developed as special economic zone. The government is looking out for interested parties in this regard, he said. This SEZ could be developed by private parties, or in public-private-partnership or the CII can take the initiative to set up a special purpose vehicle for the purpose, Baligar said.

He said the government would establish airstrips in almost all districts, as also helipads in tourist attractions such as Belur, Halebidu, Aihole and Pattadakal. Chief secretary S V Ranganath said L&T and

Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd would sign an MoU on February 24 to form a 50:50 joint venture to take up the 1,600 mw pit-head power project in Chhattisgarh.