From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Dec 20: In a move to prepare the legal framework for facilitating investments on a big scale, the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP regime has introduced a bill to establish, operate, regulate and manage the large or mega or super mega size investment regions and industrial areas or clusters in the State.

Under the Karnataka Special Investment Region Bill, 2022, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in Belagavi on Tuesday, Karnataka aims to retain the State’s position as a global manufacturing hub, specially enabling economic activity, supported by world class infrastructure, premium civic amenities, centers of excellence with proactive policy framework.

The bill provides to empower the State Government by notification to declare an existing or proposed investment region or industrial area to be a Special Investment Region (SIR) and determine its geographical areas.

The Special Investment Region would be out of the jurisdiction of the local authority, the Bill said.

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) would be the SIR Apex Authority for making regulations for development, operation, regulation and management of the SIRs and development of infrastructure within the region.

The authority would be empowered to approve the plan for land use, development plan, grant of permission for economic activity, fix user charges for the proposed regional development authority or government agency and to monitor the development of the SIR.

The state government will constitute a regional development authority (RDA) for the SIR and the RDA will have powers to acquire, hold and dispose of moveable and immovable property.

Instead of constituting a RDA, the government will have powers to designate its own agency or company as the RDA and empower it to exercise all the powers and perform all the functions.

The chairman, the executive officer, the general manager and two officials of the RDA to be appointed by the government. An officer to be nominated by the Apex Authority.

The RDA should secure planned development of the SIR and will take steps for its effective regulation and efficient management, management and planning of land resources, and infrastructure of the SIR, classify and earmark the area of the SIR for various purposes, prepare development plan, to acquire, hold and manage land, sale, lease, transfer or dispose of any land or building belonging to it.

The RDA would carry out surveys in the SIR, to enter into agreements, contracts or concession agreements with any other person, entity for performing its functions, the bill says.

The RDA would be assigned to provide disaster management and mitigation in the SIR and it would levy and collect such fees, development charges, and remove encroachments.