K'taka to promote M'lore as petrochemicals zone

With the ONGC special economic zone (SEZ) coming up in Mangalore, Karnataka has decided to promote the coastal city as a destination for investments in petrochemicals. A special panel will be formed to pursue the plan.

The Karnataka cabinet on Wednesday approved the formation of the panel of technical experts and business community.

"The panel will approach the Centre seeking special status for Mangalore as a petrochemicals zone. It will come up on 3,000 acres outside the city. All basic infrastructure facilities, including a port, will be developed," Karnataka's home minister M P Prakash told reporters after the meeting.

The Cabinet also approved setting up a sugar factory (2,500 metric tonnes cane crushing capacity, 16 Mw cogeneration) in Gokak with an investment of Rs 58 crore by a private firm.

Approval for setting up another private sugar factory (5,000 metric tonnes cane crushing capacity, 26 Mw cogeneration) in Gulbarga district was given, the minister said.

The meeting also decided to provide a rail link to the upcoming Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli from the city centre.

"Identification of land is under progress to set up the train terminal. Passengers will go through immigration clearance and obtain flight boarding pass at the city terminal," Prakash pointed out.

For the first time in the history of the state, the legislative session will be held outside Bangalore, at Belgaum.

"The session may be held in Belgaum after September 24 for 4-5 days," the minister said. The move comes after Maharashtra staked claim to Belgaum on the grounds that the city is a Marathi-dominated area.

"We are showing solidarity with Kannadigas in Belgaum by holding the legislative session. This city will remain an integral part of Karnataka," Prakash said.