Biotech. park to be developed like industrial estates

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 5. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, said here on Friday that his Government had a clear vision on the future needs of the State. He said the proposal to set up a bio- technology park on the land belonging to the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, was not ``real-estate business'' as alleged by those who opposed the move.

Mr. Krishna, who was speaking after inaugurating the Sri Jagadguru Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Institute of Technology (SJBIT) on the outskirts of the City, said the Government was concentrating on the future plans for the State.

The remarks on the controversy over the bio-technology park project came while he was referring to the leaping growth of China's economy after it entered the World Trade Organisation (WTO). China could become a superpower in 10 years as said by the former Union Finance Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh. However, the situation in India was different because ``every step forward is followed by four steps backward'' in the country. India could not compete with China as the former followed the democratic system of governance. In China, power was concentrated in one hand.

He said those interested in setting up bio-technology industries were free to seek land at the proposed bio-technology park, provided they had the capacity. He noted that the Government intended to develop the park on the lines of industrial estates.

He said the Government had provided a level-playing field in technical education, and those who could provide proper infrastructure could set up engineering colleges. There was no selective approach for granting permission to set up engineering colleges. The applicants should have a good track record. * * * Parameshwar backtracks

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Higher Education and Medical Education, Dr. G.Parameshwar, backtracked from his statement opposing the setting up of the bio-technology park on the land belonging to the UAS. He said his rapport with presspersons had led to his statement in Mysore being misquoted.

Dr. Parameshwar, who reportedly opposed the proposal in Bangalore too, clarified that he had stated that the proposed site had rich germ-plasm. He had told presspersons that the vegetation could be relocated scientifically on some other land. He had said that the park would be helpful to the students of the UAS also.

He said the Government had intended to develop the stretch between the Mehkri Circle and Yelahanka as a bio-technology corridor. Helping farmers does not mean waiver of loans alone, he said, and noted that farmers would be the beneficiaries of bio- technology as it would provide them modern inputs.

He said the Government had allowed about 100 colleges to impart specialised education on bio-technology, realising its importance in production of food.

Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of the Adichunchanagiri Math, the Minister for Revenue Mr. H.C.Srikantaiah, Mr. M.V.Chandrashekhara Murthy, Kanakapura MP, Mr. Ambarish, Mandya MP, Mr. R.Ashok, Uttarahalli MLA, and the Vice-Chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University, Dr. K.Balaveera Reddy, were present.

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