Integrated industrial township to be developed in 970 acres near KGF
Bengaluru, Sep 16: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said his government will ensure the development of an integrated industrial township in over 970 acres of land in Kolar district, aimed at prompting industries in the region to provide jobs for locals.
The Chief Minister was responding to a question raised by KGF (Kolar Gold Fields) MLA Roopakala M in the legislative assembly during the question hour regarding developing an industrial township in the land the government has taken back from Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and alleged delay in transfer of land to Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for the purpose.
"There is a proposal to transfer BEML land from Revenue to the Industries Department and to develop it through KIADB. It is difficult to get land around Bengaluru and if we have to acquire land it is costly and those who set up industries will have to bear it. Also the region is deprived of industries despite being so close to Bengaluru."
Pointing out that after the Kolar Gold Field mines stopped functioning there are employment issues in the region, he said, "considering all these factors, we will ensure the land is transferred and is developed into an industrial township. I have already said in the budget that industrial townships will be developed. So an integrated industrial township will be developed there."
Earlier raising the issue, Roopakala lamented that out of about 1,870 acres of land given to BEML, the state government since the last three years is in the process of taking back about 970 acres of remaining unused land, and asked "what should the people of my constituency do? What's their fate?"
Questioning the delay and why the government was not acting swiftly, she said the place was not even 100 km away from Bengaluru and has a large number of working class population.
Replying to her, Medium and Large Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani said, the land has to be transferred from Revenue to Industries department.
"We have sent several communications to the Revenue Department through KIADB, but they have not transferred it yet. We have brought it to the notice of both the Revenue Minister and Chief Minister, and as soon as they transfer, we will start the work on the industrial township," he said.
Intervening, Senior Congress MLA and former Industries Minister R V Deshpande said, Industries and Revenue are sister departments in the government and should sort out the issue with proper coordination in the interest of the people, setting up of industries and to create jobs. He urged the Chief Minister to also intervene.
According to the Minister's written reply, state government had given about 1,870 acres of land to BEML to set up a factory at a village in Robertsonpet hobli of KGF taluk in Kolar district, and out of this the Kolar Deputy Commissioner had on November 12, 2020 issued an order for Revenue department to take back about 971 acres of remaining unused land, as per prescribed norms.
It also said that the Industries department has written letters to the Revenue department seeking to transfer the land to KIADB to develop industrial townships there in March, August and December 2021, and the land has still not been allotted to KIADB.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
