From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 14: Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani has declared that the State Government will not sell or transfer the valuable lands belonging to the Mysore Lamp Works Ltd factory, which has been wound up due to heavy losses, to private parties.

Responding to queries from the opposition members in the Legislative Council in Belagavi on Tuesday, the minister said the State Government will implement a novel ‘Experience Bengaluru Project’ to showcase Bengaluru’s culture and heritage and preserve the green lung space in the heart of the city.

Nirani categorically denied any move to sell or transfer the Mysore Lamp Works Limited’s land to private parties.

“Our aim is to use the available space to showcase our rich culture and heritage. The Chief Secretary will be the chairman of 7-member Trust. Development Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development; BBMP Chief Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary Commerce and Industry Department and Commissioner for industries will be among 7 members,’’ he said.

The minister also stated that five eminent persons will be part the Trust to guidance and two have already been appointed. I’ve clarified very clearly in this House that there is no question of selling or transferring the land.

“The Trust is in the name of Mysore Lamps and will continue so,” the Minister clarified.

The Minister said the Trust will be used to develop the land and showcase Bengaluru’s heritage and cited the examples of similar initiatives in countries like China and Japan.

The State Government had issued an order on December 1, 2020 approving implementation of novel ‘Experience Bengaluru Project’ on the land belonging to the Mysore Lamp Works Limited factory in Malleswaram.

A Public Charitable Trust in the name of ‘Bengaluru Heritage and Environment Trust’ has been registered on June 8, 2021, he said.

The 21-acre land owned by The Mysore Lamp Works Limited was declared a sick industry in 1996. The Labour Department had permitted closure of the company in 2002 and subsequently it was closed in 2003. The Government has created a corpus of Rs 25 crore in the Bengaluru Heritage and Environment Trust and released Rs 10 crore to the Trust in May 2021.

The Trust is preparing a detailed project report for the ‘Experience Bengaluru Project in the Mysore Lamp Works Limited’ and ‘Tree Park and repurposing of existing buildings’ in the NGEF land.

The main objective of the Trust is to preserve, create, exhibit, fund or promote any monuments, places or structures of artistic or historic interest. And also preserve and increase the green space in Bengaluru and promote the state's culture and heritage, the minister added.