Small inds push for exclusive land

In a representation submitted to chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Tuesday, office-bearers of the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia) said land availability is turning out to be a major problem for small industrialists who are scaling up production and are modernising their units.

Nearly 90 per cent of the small industries are currently operating outside the industrial estates created by the government, Kassia representatives said and added: "While allotment of land by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board for small industries has been dismal in the recent times, expansion of industrial estates by Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation has not accelerated."

Requesting land for the industrial estate in order to facilitate speedy growth of small enterprises, Kassia said it is in the process of getting the Infrastructure Industrial Cooperative Society registered.

This apart, Kassia also urged the government to release Rs 2 crore in order to strengthen its functional units: Centre for quality development and research, Centre for techno economic research and development, International sub contract exchange, and Export promotion cell.