Bengaluru’s political corridors are buzzing with controversy as BJP leader R. Ashok, the Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, unleashed a scathing attack on the state government. He accused them of plotting to seize prime land earmarked for the expansion of the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) T. Narasipura unit, redirecting it instead for a local stadium project. This move, Ashok warns, threatens the very survival of the iconic Mysore Silk brand, a global symbol of quality and heritage.
In a strongly worded statement, Ashok highlighted how the government is disregarding an internal technical report that explicitly objected to the land diversion. The five-acre plot in T. Narasipura was specifically allocated for KSIC’s future growth, including critical infrastructure like an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and enhanced production capacity. The managing director’s detailed report, backed by operational data, underscored the land’s indispensability.
Why undermine a profitable public sector enterprise with soaring demand? Ashok questioned the motives, demanding transparency on who stands to gain from this decision. He pointed out the ripple effects on operations: the unit guzzles about 500,000 liters of water daily for silk reeling, and the proposed stadium could disrupt vital pipelines, crippling production.
Hundreds of workers and thousands of silk farmers depend on this facility for their livelihoods. Regulatory norms mandate at least 30% of industrial land as green zones, and any reduction risks shutdowns and non-compliance penalties. Mysore Silk, with its GI tag from the Mysore Wodeyar era, enjoys worldwide acclaim for authenticity.
Instead of weakening this institution, the government should modernize it, Ashok urged. He has appealed to the state to scrap the plan and escalated the issue to PMO, Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, calling for intervention to safeguard KSIC’s future.