Belagavi IT Park on Defence land – MLA Abhay Patil reacts

In order to decentralise the information technology sector, The state government’s plan to set up an Information Technology park (IT Park) on 754 acres of land which is currently under the control of defence ministry.

Mla Abhay Patil has envisaged the plan to set up an IT-Park in the 754 acres land which is very well suitable for establishing IT companies and Semi conductor industry within City limits is facing opposition from few locals as they want this large green patch to be retained.

Reacting to the questions asked by journalists, Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil said “For some people, There is a problem in whatever i do, The protestors were silent when Defence was about to build quarters in the same location, but they are opposing for IT park and Semi-conductor industry which creates direct employement opportunities for 1 lakh people will help for the upcoming generation.

“Also with development of IT park in Belagavi, The City grows on the lines of Pune in Maharashtra. Opposing for such projects will affect our upcoming generation. IT Cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune has any problem in oxygen supply ? people living there attached to oxygen cylinders ? though they have many IT parks and companies, No right ? So no use of opposing development projects” said Abhay Patil.

It may be recalled that CM Basavaraj Bommai, during his visit to Belagavi, had stated that the state is looking beyond Bengaluru for infrastructure and his government is committed to develop IT park in Belagavi. Bommai has also raised this issue with defence minister Rajnath Singh.

The land is located in the Srinagar area of the city. Abhay Patil said he has been working since 2009 to get the land back as lease was completed in 1960. The land was given on lease to defence by the then British government in 1860 for 100 years to graze horses.

What activists say ? : The government had given over 150 acres of land for IT park and other infrastructure at Desur. The state has also developed basic infrastructure on 42 acres of the same land. However, the land remained unused so utilised existing land instead of Destroying green space.

As per TOI report, advocate-activist N R Lathur said the residents plan to oppose the park and may file a Public Interest Litigation if the defence ministry handovers the land to state government for the park. “This is a mammoth lung space with a large number of trees. Destruction of this space will lead to bring down the air quality and the city will lose a major green space,” he said.

Advocate Lathur alleged that some politicians want to buy land here at throw away prices and hence are showing undue interest under the garb of building a park. “No residents will side with this idea. There is a huge amount of land allocated for the same at Desur, let them use that,” he said.