Karnataka - Mysore   

Nanjangud set to emerge as Mysore's satellite town

Shankar Bennur

It is one of the fastest growing industrial towns in the State

SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENT: Shopping complexes and guesthouses near the famous Srikanteshwaraswamy temple in Nanjangud. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: Nanjangud, which is one of the fastest growing industrial towns in the State, is in the spotlight as efforts to develop the town into Mysore's satellite town have begun with the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) deciding to prepare a master plan for the temple town. Plans are afoot to develop the town on the lines of the Kengeri satellite town in Bangalore.

Although there has been talk of developing Nanjangud, which is 22 km from Mysore, into a satellite town for many years, the proposal had not received much attention. The proposal has gained momentum and the focus is now on the town, which has many prestigious industrial units, including some multinationals, to prepare the town to ease "pressure" on Mysore.

"The town will on its own develop into a satellite town in urban planning in the next few years," official sources told The Hindu .

Many industries are located in the Nanjangud Industrial Area (NIA) which is spread across hundreds of acres. There are many major industries, medium industries and small-scale units in the taluk.

According to information from the industries, Nanjangud is the second highest tax-paying (sales tax of over Rs. 400 crore a year) taluk in the State after Bangalore. TVS Motor Company, Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd, Nestle India Ltd, AT and S India Private Ltd., South India Paper Mills, Reid and Taylor, Raman Boards, Jubilant Organosys, Brakes (India) and Bacardi RUM are some of the major industries located in the taluk.

Known as "Dakshin Kashi" for its famous Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple and the Kapila, Nanjangud is also famous for Ayurveda medicines manufactured by Sadvaidyashala. With skyrocketing land prices in Mysore, people are turning towards Nanjangud town.

Land prices have also shot up in the town. An acre of "kuski" land (dry land) in the 5 km radius of the town, which was not even fetching Rs. 1 lakh last year, is being sold for Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 40 lakh.

Two main reasons for the rise in land prices are the airport modernisation at Mandakalli, which is 15 km from Nanjangud and 10 km from Mysore and the work to convert Mysore-Nanjangud-Chamarajnagar line into broadguage.

There are reports of land mafia buying agriculture land surrounding Nanjangud town, Chamalapura and Deveerammannahalli in bulk, paying lakhs of rupees to unsuspecting farmers.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner and MUDA Administrator S. Selva Kumar said a master plan would be prepared by the end of this year, collecting opinions and suggestions from the people. An interaction with the people would be held , he added.

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