Karnataka Cabinet Allots Land To GAIL India For Bengaluru Bio-CNG Plant

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the allocation of 18 acres of land in Haralakunte village, Bengaluru South Taluk, to GAIL (India) Limited for establishing a bio-CNG plant with a capacity of 300 metric tonnes per day, expandable to 500 metric tonnes. The land is provided on a 25-year “permissive use” basis, as announced by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil on Thursday. The Revenue Department and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited will survey and transfer the land, with the Urban Development Department tasked to resolve any operational issues.

The cabinet also addressed the misuse of biodiesel, approving guidelines to prevent the sale of spurious chemicals misrepresented as biodiesel. Patil clarified that biodiesel, derived from used cooking oil, is restricted to personal and hotel use and not available at retail outlets. The government endorsed the draft “Bio-Diesel (B-100) Blending with High Speed Diesel for Transportation Purposes (Licensing) Order, 2022” to regulate blending and curb illegal sales, aiming to ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards.

In healthcare, the cabinet extended the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka scheme to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, including ESIS beneficiaries, aligning with the Government of India’s Vayo Vandana Yojana. Additionally, it approved ₹100 crore for two 100-bed hospitals in Yelahanka Taluk’s Bellahalli and Hebbal, enhancing local healthcare infrastructure. To boost administrative efficiency, 3,500 Chromebooks will be distributed to revenue inspectors and village officers under the Digi Revenue Project.

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New protocol guidelines for official events were also introduced, mandating the inclusion of local MLAs and MPs in district and taluk-level programmes, with a cap of 13 dignitaries on the dais. District in-charge ministers, local MLAs, or department ministers will finalise dignitary lists, ensuring streamlined representation. These decisions reflect Karnataka’s focus on sustainable energy, healthcare access, and administrative modernisation.

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