Projects near BIAL yet to see light of day

Projects near BIAL yet to see light of day
The Times of India

Bangalore: Prestigious aerospace and other engineering projects have been planned near the upcoming Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) that will redefine the industrial landscape of Bangalore. Yet, they may not take off on time owing to the “very difficult and complex process of land acquisition” and the “necessity to avoid acquiring cultivable land”.
The government has, in principle, approved the setting up of a hardware technology park near BIAL. It has also okayed a private party’s offer to build the park in 1,300 acres of land. The preliminary notification for land, which was forwarded to the government, has also been cleared.
“The question now is to notify farmers. The government has to convince them why it needs the land and what is in it for them? There will have to be spin-offs from the hardware park in some way or the other to persuade farmers to part with the land.”
Sources say the 1,300 acre-area has been approved, but the entire process of acquisition will take anywhere from 8 to 10 months. It is only a year after the in-principle approval that the hardware park is expected to take off. “We are still at the notification stage. Next comes the inquiry. Much negotiation has to be done there. It is a long process,” sources said. The hardware park has been earmarked for prestigious projects that includes aerospace. Faster the land is acquired, quicker industries will come up.
Apart from the hardware park, the government is planning an industrial area covering 1,200 acres, also close to BIAL. Preliminary notification for land is over but discussion with farmers is on.
Government officials are now talking to farmers on the details of land costs and related factors. It is now in the second stage as far as work on carving out the industrial area is concerned.
An official, however, observed: “It is easy to give in-principle approval for projects. The government will, however, have the very difficult task of ensuring that both industry and farmers are satisfied.