Govt mulling creating industrial node in abandoned BGML land

: The Karnataka government Monday informed the assembly that it was mulling creating an industrial node in association with the Centre in about 12,000 acres of abandoned land ofBharat Gold Mines Limited in Kolar Gold Fields.

Industries Minister K J George stated this during question hour in response to a question by KGF MLA M Roopa.

George said a meeting was held on November 13 under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister on creating the node, akin to the Tumakuru industrial node under the Chennai-Bengaluru industrial corridor, in association with the union government.

At the meeting, it was decided that the Commerce and Industries department would negotiate with the Ministry of Mines regarding the transfer of unencumbered clear vacant land to the state government to develop the industrial node.

A committee, led by the Commissioner for Industrial Development, Director (Mines and Geology) and Deputy Commissioner, Kolar, has been asked to obtain a 'clear report' in four weeks on the status of vacant unencumbered lands that would be taken over for development of the node, he added.

The union government had closed the operations of BGML in 2001.

To Roopa's question on the fate of 20,000 to 30,000 BGML workers affected by the closure,George said the responsibility actually lies with the centre. However,the proposed node would provide employment opportunities to them once again, he said.

Noting that according to the Centre,there is liability worth Rs 1,600 crore linked to BGML land at KGF, the minister said "we are ready to pay that. But we want encumbrance from the government of India.

We are waiting for the report from our officers committee...after that we will decide," he said.