State govt acts swiftly, grants land to EADS

State govt acts swiftly, grants land to EADS
Location: Near Devanahalli Airport
The Times of India

Bangalore: The state government on Monday gave in-principle approval for immediate grant of land to the largest European defence concern, the European Aeronautic and Defence Space Company (EADS), to set up its technology centre and campus here.
The decision has come in less than 48 hours of reports appearing in The Times of India that the $37 billion concern was on the verge of exiting Bangalore for want of response from the government to its queries relating to land.
Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said: “We have requested
EADS to apply for the land in the correct format.’’
Sources said the government has agreed to grant land exactly in the area that EADS is very keen on — close to the Devanahalli international airport.
The government has already communicated to EADS the extent and location of land. It has in fact forwarded a formal endorsement to this effect to EADS representatives in India.
The decision to approve land was taken by senior state government officials in concurrence with Kumaraswamy. The CM, sources said, personally instructed officials to immediately go ahead with grant of land.
A copy of the note that came out of this meeting has been handed over to EADS and carries the seal of the chief minister. It is now to be approved by the Cabinet.
Sources said the decision on land grant was fairly easy owing to one crucial factor: the BIAL had spare land of 400 acres that had been acquired by Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board for the international airport on behalf of the Infrastructure Development Department.
It is within this spare 400 acres that EADS will be given land.
The Infrastructure Department had earmarked this land for various purposes including aerospace activity.
EADS precisely fulfills that objective of the department. Its officials have already seen this land and are very keen on it. Now, the government is awaiting EADS’ response.
l In-principle approval of land to EADS
l Land is close to Devanahalli airport
l Granted from 400 acres of spare land with BIAL
l It can be developed by January 2007
l EADS can begin construction in February 2007 as per the original plan