Date: 1st June 2004

To,
The Chief Minister,
The Government of Karnataka,
Bangalore.

Dear Sir,

This is a petition for providing thrust on development of Bagalkot district. Bagalkot district and surrounding places comprising of Badami, Bagalkot, Biligi, Hunugund, Jamkandi and Mudhol have been a neglected place for a long time, there is huge population of unemployed people in this place.

With the Indian market opening up to exports, we are bound to see growth in new export oriented industries like Automobile components, Garments and Textiles, Electronics hardware, Agri products, Gems and Jewellery, Leather Goods, and other domestic goods that can be consumed by big retail chains across the world. These industries need a well-planned city, with cheap labour and good resources. Karnataka being a front-runner in IT exports will be naturally given highest priority by these industries for location.

Incidentally, we have a city in Karnataka that is being planned and built along international standards and also is situated in a rural area. With the submerging of old-Bagalkot, a new city is being planned and developed on international lines. The new city plan has been done by M/s. Charles Correa. (http://www.charlescorrea.net/0106uxM.htm?u05BAC.htm~C01proj).

Bagalkot district has abundant resources both natural and in manpower. The Almatti dam construction has provided the area with abundant water. Bagalkot district has a lot of famous educational institutions providing high quality education in ITI, diploma, engineering and management. Places like Ilkal are famous for saree industries this offers a ready skilled labour for Garment export Industries.

With the results of the 2004 elections, we are now very clear that what people want is not only the growth on urban areas but they want the fruits of development to be shared with the rural India also.

Ravi Uppal, vice chairman & managing director of ABB, says, "Karnataka must continue its progressive policies, but we simply have to focus on industries that generate rural and blue collar employment."

Jagdish Hinduja, MD, Gokaldas Images says "The outcome shows we should move to agriculture, manufacturing, to major employment generating sectors.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/679572.cms

By signing this letter we make a request to the Karnataka government to setup a Special Economic Zone in New Bagalkot area for export oriented industries. Supplement it with a good airport and high-speed broadband connectivity.

If New Bagalkot is declared a Special Economic Zone, it can become a hub of these export-oriented industries (Automobile components, Garments and Textiles, Electronics hardware, Agri products, Gems and Jewellery, Leather Goods, and other domestic goods that can be consumed by big retail chains across the world). A well-planned city with enormous industrial growth is no doubt going to be a model city for the Country. With its location in the rural area, it would become a trendsetter for relocation of industries to rural area and thus naturally improving them.