Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwatha Narayana interacts with Defence Minister Rajanath Singh to hand over 750 acres of land for the proposed Belagavi IT Park
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwatha Narayana, who also holds electronics, IT/Bt, and S&T portfolio, met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday and sought to hand over 750 acres of land in Belagavi, which is in possession of the defence department, to facilitate the establishment of the proposed IT park.
He informed this while speaking to media after he held a discussion regarding this with Rajanath Singh in New Delhi, on Saturday.
“If this land is handed over to the state government, it would be used to establish an IT park and also to set up Electronic Hardware, Aerospace, and other manufacturing industries,” said C N Ashwatha Narayana.
The said land which originally belongs to Belagavi village is located adjacent to the National Highway No 4 and is ideal for the development of IT park.
IT/ITeS industry
“Though the state government had ordered for the resumption of this land in November 2012, it is still continued in the possession of the defence department,” said the Minister.
The state of Karnataka has continued to be a pioneer in the country with regard to the IT/ITeS industry for a decade. The state has introduced a new IT policy recently and aims to retain its top ranking in the industry.
Apart from this, the state has also rolled out the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ project with the objective of promoting IT/ITes, electronic industries in regions outside Bengaluru also.
“In light of the above reasons, handing over of the land in Belagavi would enable the growth of the IT-related industry so as to achieve balanced growth,” said C N Ashwatha Narayana.
Education institutions
Belagavi has seen development as a good educational zone and many prestigious higher education institutes such as IIT-Dharawada, IIIT-Dharawada, KLE are located in the surrounding areas. This has resulted in producing a large number of talented graduates every year.
In addition, the area has a suitable ecosystem conducive to the development of the IT/ITeS industry. The proposed IT Park aims to generate about 60 lakhs of direct and indirect jobs and there has been a persistent demand for this from the representatives of the Belagavi region.
“Besides this would also help the state to contribute 30% in India’s target of becoming a trillion-dollar economy,” said Ashwatha Narayana said. Abhay Patil, MLA, Belagavi South, was also with him while meeting the Defence Minister.
C N Ashwatha Narayana recently inaugurated Karnataka Digital Economy Mission ((KDEM) office as part of the state government’s efforts to take IT sector beyond Bengaluru. KDEM is a public-private partnership initiative of the state government and ITES Industry with 49:51 shareholding pattern formed to increase digital economy contribution to GSDP to 30%.
