'Farmers part with land for industries willingly'

Karnataka large and medium scale industries minister Murugesh Nirani has claimed that farmers were parting with their land voluntarily for industries in the state. “They are not averse to industrial development in their districts,” he added.

Speaking to reporters after an interaction with promoters of small-scale industries here, Nirani said 80-90 per cent of farrmers in the state were willingly giving up their land for industrial units while the rest were demanding a hike in the price for their land.

When asked about the Haveri farmers’ refusal to part with their land to the Tata Steel group, the minister replied, farmers of some villages in Haveri district were willing to give their land to the Tatas, but they wanted a better price. “It will soon be sorted out,” he asserted.

Nirani said, industries and companies which had come forward to invest in the state at the Global Investors’ Meet, are in touch with nodal officers to finalise their proposals/projects. Some 18 nationalised banks which participated in the GIM have agreed to provide loan to industries to set up shop in Karnataka. Nationalised banks would provide term loans to the tune of Rs 1.5 lakh crore to start industrial units.

“As per the agreement at GIM, a textile unit — Atec-Denim — will perform bhoomi pooja for its textile unit in Bijapur. It will be built in two phases on 100 acres for a cost of Rs 500 crore. The project will generate about 5,000 jobs in the district,” he said, claiming: “We are providing facilities demanded by industrialists investing in our state.”

To a query, the minister said, of the Rs 180 crore pending subsidy due to the small-scale industries, Rs 140 crore had been released, while the rest will be released by March-end.

The proposed move of the government to buy 1,000 Mw would help industries overcome the existing power crisis. “There won’t be any power problems for the next fortnight,” he said.

He spoke of the plans on making rural talented youth start their own industries under the new Udyami-Udyoga Scheme. “Focus will also be given to increase the number of skilled and semi-skilled youth so that they are employed in the new units coming up in the state,” he added.

Earlier speaking at the interaction session Nirani asked nationalised banks to provide loans for industrialists without insisting on collateral security. “There is an urgent need for industrial development in Tier-2 cities for their economic and social development,” he said.

Kassia president S S Biradar urged the minister to provide quality and uninterrupted power so that industrialists can plan their production. He also requested the minister to have a re-look into the current stamp duty regulations and to make it industry-friendly.

Regretting that north Karnataka lacked skilled manpower, he highlighted the need for a training centre in each district.

Industrialists from Mysore, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Hassan, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Karwar, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Bagalkot districts participated in the interaction. They expressed their anguish over the lack of basic facilities in their respective districts.