Karnataka
 |
Area |
1,91,791 sq km |
 |
State
Government Portal |
 |
Population |
52,850,562 |
|
Open Forum Partners
|
 |
Capital |
Bangalore |
|
Important Contact Numbers |
 |
Principal
Languages |
Kannada |
|
Development Initiatives |
History
and Geography
Karnataka has a written history of more than
2,000 years. Apart from it being subjected to
the rule of the Nandas, Mauryas, and the Shatavahanas,
Karnataka came to have indigenous dynasties
like the Kadambas of Banavasi and the Gangas
from the middle of the 4th century AD. Gomateshwara
monolith at Sharvanabelagola was installed by
a Ganga minister Chavundaraya. The Chalukyas
of Badami (500-735 AD) ruled over a wider area,
from the Narmada to the Kaveri from the days
of Pulikeshi II (609-642 AD), who even defeated
Harshavardhana of Kannauj. This dynasty created
fine monuments at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal,
both structural and rock-cut. Aihole has been
one of the cradles of temple architecture in
the country. The Rashtrakutas (753-973 AD) of
Malkhed, who succeeded them, levied tribute
on the rulers of Kannauj successively in the
so-called ‘Age of Imperial Kannauj'. Kannada
literature developed during this period. Outstanding
Jain scholars of India lived in their court.
The Chalukyas of Kalyana (973 to 1189 AD) and
their feudatories, the Hoysalas of Halebidu
built fine temples, encouraged literature and
fine arts. Noted jurist Vijnaneshwara (work:
Mitakshara ) lived at Kalyana. Great religious
leader Basaveshwara was a minister at Kalyana.
Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1646) fostered indigenous
traditions and encouraged arts, religion and
literature in Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu and
Tamil. Overseas trade also flourished during
their rule. The Bahamani Sultans (Capital: Gulbarga,
later Bidar) and the Bijapur Adilshahis raised
fine Indo-Saracenic buildings and encouraged
Urdu and Persian literature. Advent of the Portuguese
resulted in the introduction of new crops (tobacco,
maize, chillies, groundnut, potato, etc.). After
the fall of the Peshwa (1818) and Tipu (1799),
Karnataka came under the British control. Christian
missionaries introduced English education and
printing during the 19th century. Revolution
in transport, communication and industries was
evident, making way for the emergence of the
urban middle-class. Mysore dynasty helped industrialisation
and cultural growth. Freedom Movement was followed
by the movement for the unification of Karnataka.
After Indian independence, the new united Mysore
State was created in 1956, and was renamed Karnataka
in 1973.
Karnataka lies to the south of Goa and Maharashtra,
to the west of Andhra Pradesh, to the north-west
of Tamil Nadu and to the north of Kerala. It
has a sea-coast of nearly 400 km (300 km with
inundations).
Agriculture
Agriculture and allied activities account for
nearly 56 per cent of the workforce in Karnataka
State. Out of the geographical area of 1,90,49,836
hectares, 1,21,08,667 hectares area is accounted
as “Agricultural Holdings” and nearly
62,21,000 farm families operate the same. Major
food crops are paddy, jowar, ragi, maize, bajra,
wheat, pulses, groundnut, sunflower, cotton,
sugarcane and tobacco. The State contributes
about 5.59 per cent in national foodgrains production.
Karnataka enjoys a prominent position on the
horticultural map of India. The State is blessed
with natural resources, favourable agro-climatic
conditions and enterprising farming community,
which offer scope for an all-round development
of horticulture. It is the first state to establish
a large scale Biotechnology Centre under public
sector to cater to the needs of farmers of the
state with an objective to produce quality-plant
materials and conserve the genetic diversity
of horticulture plants.
Horticulture covers an area of 15.81 lakh hectares
in the State. The horticultural policy focuses
on area expansion, dissemination of new technology
and production and supply productivity of planting
materials.
Irrigation and Power
Karnatka has the basins of the Krishna, Cauvery,
Godavari, North Pennar, South Pennar, Palar
and the west flowing river basins as well with
a drainage area of 1,90,500 sq km. The average
annual yield of the rivers has been estimated
as 97,352 m.cum. The ultimate irrigation potential
of the State from all sources has been estimated
at about 61 lakh hectares consisting of 35 lakh
hectares under major and medium irrigation,
10 lakh hectares under minor irrigation (surface)
projects and 16 lakh hectares under groundwater
resources.
The Karnataka Electricity Reform Act was enacted
in 1999. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory
Commission (KERC) has been functioning since
December 1999 and the erstwhile Karnataka Electricity
Board was corporatised under the banner KPTCL.
The KPTCL was further unbundled into the Transmission
Company (KPTCL) and four Distribution companies,
namely, BESCOM, MESCOM, HESCOM and GESCOM. These
four were catering to about 12.50 million consumers.
The total installed generation capacity of
the State is 5,836 MW. In the next 3 to 4 years,
it is planned to add about 2,400 MW of additional
generation capacity mainly from the following
power projects: (i) Almatti Hydel Project: 290
MW: (ii) RTPS 8th unit 210 MW; (iii) Bellary
Thermal Power Project 500 MW; and (iv) Bidadi
Combined Cycle Project 1,400 MW.
The State has achieved 100 per cent in village
electrification. Now the main thrust is on electrification
of hamlets. More emphasis is being given for
reduction of commercial losses.
Industry
The State has been a pioneer in industry and
also had the distinction of building a strong
and vibrant industrial base, which combined
the strengths of a large public sector, privately
owned large and medium industries and a very
wide and dispersed small-scale sector. Good
labour relations have helped the state achieve
pre-eminence on the industrial map. In more
recent times, Karnataka has emerged as the knowledge
and technical capital of the country. The thick
concentration of I.T related industries, bio-technology,
BPO's and IPO's combined with strong research
and development institutions and a large pool
of qualified trained manpower have ensured that
the state is now leading global player. The
Government has been consistently pursuing progressive
industrial policies to meet the changing needs
of the State’s economy and industry.
Karnataka is one among the most preferred destinations
for foreign investments in India and houses
65 of world fortune 500 companies.
The State Government has evolved a new Industrial
Policy for the Textile Industry. The State is
home for every sector of industry such as, Information
Technology, Bio-technology, Electronics, Telecom,
Aerospace, Processed Foods, Apparel, Automobiles,
Banking and Finance, Mining, Steel, Cement and
much more. The State is having small, large
and medium scale industries providing employment
to a large number of people in the State.
The State contributes 70 per cent of India’s
coffee and silk, 20 per cent electronic hardware
and 35 per cent of software for exports and
is a major producer of spices, flowers, fruits
and vegetables.
Karnataka has a progressive industrial policy
in place that actively supports public-private
partnership. Sector specific policies, viz.,
I.T. Policy, B.T. Policy, B.P.O. Policy, Tourism
Policy, Agro Food Processing Policy and Export
Promotion Policy are in place for focused backing.
The State has simplified Labour Law, Land Reforms
Act, and the Karnataka Industries (Facilitation)
Act 2002 is under enactment to ease doing business
in the State and wherein deemed approval clause
is incorporated.
Minerals
Karnataka is endowed with rich mineral deposits.
All minerals except hydrocarbons are available
in the State. Important minerals are gold iron
ore, copper, manganese, chromite, limestone,
clay, kaonite, silica sand, molding sand, felsite,
quartzite and ornamental granites, etc. The
State is getting about Rs 170 crore as royalty
on minerals produced in the State.
Information Technology
Karnataka – the Silicon State is the most
favoured destination for IT and other knowledge
based industries. The State has the most investor
friendly policy. The State has taken major initiatives
in the e-governance area. It has computerised
all treasuries. It is programmed to implement
the delivery of caste and income certificate,
birth and Death certificate, old age pensions,
domicile certificate, etc., under the Rural
Digital Services (RDS) project.
Besides computerising government offices latest
information to the farmers regarding techniques
of crop production, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry,
Fishery, Sericulture and Diary farming has also
been computerised.
Transport
Roads: There are 13 National Highways in Karnataka
State. The total length is 3,967 km. Out of
the 13 National Highways, 2 viz., NH.4 and NH.7
are handed over to National Highways Authority
of India, New Delhi for improvements under the
Golden Quadrilateral and North-South corridor
respectively. The remaining 3,008 km comprising
of 11 National Highways are improved/maintained
by Government of India. The total length of
State Highways is 9,590 km. Lengths of major
district roads, municipal roads and other district
and village roads are respectively 38,247 km,
8,366 km and 1,12,958 Km.
Railways: Rail network in Karnataka is 3,100
km, which includes broad gauge (2,450 km), metre
gauge (350 km).
Aviation: Bangalore, Belgaum, Mangalore and
Hubli are the main airports. Direct flight facilities
to major cities of India are available from
Bangalore. Some international flight activity
already exists in the current HAL/Domestic Airport.
Ports: Karnataka has formulated a new port
policy. The strategy adopted is to use private
investment for the creation of port facilities,
development of new sites and supporting infrastructure,
maritime related industries, and coastal shipping
and port facilities for power projects. The
Karnataka Industrial Investment and Development
Corporation has been appointed as nodal agency
for implementation of this policy. A committee
has been constituted to finalise the framework
of agreement with private parties.
Tourist Attraction
Karnataka has numerous Tourist attractions.
The former princely capital Mysore with the
Brindavan Gardens and Srirangapattana nearby,
Sharavanabelgola with the famous monolithic
statue of Gomateshwara (57 ft high), Belur,
Halebid and Somnathpura with the famous Hoysala
monuments; Badami, Aihole and Pattadkal for
the 1,300 year old rock-cut and structural temples;
Hampi, the famous open air museum (ancient Vijayanagar);
Gulbarga, Bidar and Bijapur, renowned for their
Indo-saracenic monuments; Dakshina Kannada,
Udupi and Uttara Kannada Districts for beautiful
beaches; Mangalore and Krwar for ports; Chitradurga,
Bidar, Basavakalyan and Gulbarga with attractive
forts; Bandipur National Park, Bannerghatta
National Park are the play ground of Wild Life;
Ranganthittu, Kokkre Bellur, Mandagadde, Gudavi,
Attiveri are the famous bird sanctuaries; Jog,
Sathodi, Shivanasamudra, Mogod, Gokak, Abbey,
Unchalli. Irupu, Hebbe, Kalhatti are the mesmerising
Falls; Madikeri, Kemmannugundi, B.R. Hills,
Nandi Hills, Kudremukh, Kodachadri are the Picturesque
Hill Stations. Dussehra, Hampi, Chalukya, Kadamba,
Hoysala, Kodagu, Karaga festivals, are depicting
art and culture of Karnataka. Kabini River Lodge,
K. Gudi, Cauveri Fishing Camp, D handeli Wilderness
Camp, Devbagh are the unique Eco-Tourism projects
of Karnataka. Gokarna, Udupi, Dharmashala, Melukote,
Gangappura, Saundatti, Kollur, Sringeri, Horanadu,
Kalasa, Kukke Subramanya, Yediyur, Koodalasangama,
Ulvi, Nanjangud are famous pilgrimage centres.
Tourism Department has identified 215 tourist
spots in the State. The capital city of Bangalore
is also a tourist attraction with its famous
huge granite structure. Vidhana Soudha and the
beautiful Cubbon Park, and Lalbhag. Hampi and
Pattadakal have been declared as World Heritage
sites.
