Industry leaders pitch green corridors for Karnataka’s next industrial zones

Guruprasad Mudlapur, chairman of the CII Karnataka State Council, has urged the Karnataka government to make green corridors part of the design of future industrial zones, including developments planned beyond Bengaluru.

Speaking at the CII Karnataka ESG Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, Mudlapur said new corridors could be built with sustainability measures and renewable power in place, rather than leaving individual micro, small and medium enterprises to arrange them separately. Such corridors can include vegetation and open spaces, support active mobility and help cool built-up areas.

Pavitra Shankar, convener of CII’s environmental sustainability panel, said industry needed both a government vision and operational frameworks to make progress on environmental, social and governance targets.

N Venu, managing director for India and South Asia at Hitachi Energy, said company governance should be treated as central to ESG implementation, including how businesses deal with employees, partners and minimum-wage compliance.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board chairman Srinivasulu told the gathering that climate considerations needed to enter boardroom decisions alongside land, labour, capital and finance. Thimmegowda MN of UAS-GKVK said Bengaluru had reached 33°C in the first week of September, against an expected 28-29°C.