B'lore plans big for Master Plan

Bangalore: The Karnataka government has given 20,000 hectares of land for industries around Bangalore and this is part of a Master Plan for the development of the Bangalore Metropolitan region.

While this may be good news for some, it also means the loss of large areas of agricultural land.

“There is 20,000 hectares additionally for industries and this is a large area,” Metropolitan Commissioner, Sudhir Krishna says.

The Master Plan has charted out land usage policies for five towns and 1,100 villages around the city with town planners also trying to attract more investment.

As much as 30 per cent of the 2,600 sq kms area is now earmarked for industries, which is the highest ever in Karnataka.

“Within the conurbation, agricultural is not recommended, though, here and there, valley zones will be protected. Agricultural area suitable for residential and industrial areas are allowed,” Krishna says.

This means large tracts of agricultural land will now make way for industries and commercial centres mostly in areas like Anekal, Hoskote, Kanakapura, Nelamangala and Magadi.

The government mantra to industries so far has been – get out of Banglaore and move to cities like Mysore and Mangalore.

But there's another option now, get out of Bangalore to its surroundings.

Small villages and towns around Bangalore which have never had a development plan until now have one now.

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