State mulls special package for industries

The Karnataka government has decided to provide a special package to industrial units making an investment of over Rs 100 crore in tier two and tier three cities (except Bangalore). The government has also asked the entrepreneurs to take advantage of the scheme, said Karnataka minister for large and medium industries Murugesh Nirani here.

Referring to allegations that the government was acquiring fertile lands indiscriminately in the name of industrial development, Nirani said the lands were being acquired only with the consent of the farmers.

He denied charges that the land acquisition had malicious intent behind them.

On the two-day global investors’ meet scheduled to be held at Bangalore on June 3 and June 4, Nirani told Business Standard here at the weekend that the road show being held in different parts of the country had received good response.

“The national and international media has given a positive picture of Karnataka as a safe investment destination in India and as such many global leaders are expected to participate in the global meet,” Nirani said.

He said the state government had cleared 38 mega projects. These projects include steel plants at Toranagallu near Hospet in Bellary district by Arcelor Mittal and and at Bijapur and Bagalkot by Posco of South Korea.

Automobile giant Hero Honda has come forward to set up a Rs 100 crore plant near Dharwad and this would provide employment to over 1,000 educated and skilled youth, the minister informed.

He also said that the Birla group had shown interest in setting up a urea manufacturing plant at Belgaum for an investment of Rs 4,600 crore providing employment to 1,500 people.