Hero Motocorp will return to Karnataka: Siddaramaiah

'Karnataka not losing industries to Andhra Pradesh'

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that Hero Motocorp company, which decided to set up its plant at Hyderabad instead of Dharwad in Karnataka, would return to Karnataka. He rejected reports that Karnataka was losing industries to Andhra Pradesh and other states and asserted that the state continued to attract industrial investment.

Replying to a question from member of legislative council Tara Anuradha in the Assembly here on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said the state government would not miss any opportunity to attract industries to Karnataka. Tara wanted to know why Hero Motocorp, supposed to set up its unit at Dharwad, decided to have it in Andhra Pradesh.

The chief minister said the company had been sanctioned 300 acres of land in Dharwad and the government had agreed to give another 200 acres. Besides, the government was ready to accord all the facilities according to the new industrial policy. "The company has been lured by Andhra Pradesh's offer of land at a concessional rate. It will regret its mistake and return to Karnataka," Siddaramaiah said.

He said 50 drugs companies have offered to shift to Karnataka from Andhra Pradesh. The state government, in its new industrial policy for 2014-2019, has announced special concessions and incentives for the industries to be set up in Hyderabad-Karnataka region. In addition, the scheduled caste/scheduled tribes, women and backward classes would be given concessions if they come forward to set up industries. The state has also requested the prime minister to announce special packages for Karnataka as has been done for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Siddaramaiah added.