MPs help sought for state projects

The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) under the leadership of its president, R C Purohit, is leading a delegation to New Delhi to meet Parliament members from Karnataka on March 8.

The delegation will apprise MPs of various investment projects that require central clearance in the state.

Karnataka today is ranked at Number 5 in industrialisation and Number 2 in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

There is a lot of scope for improvement, specially in the manufacturing and services sectors and the state becoming No. 2 or 3 immediately. However, this is possible only when the infrastructure in the state is improved, said Purohit.

He told reporters here today that the 34-member delegation will seek the help of Karnataka MPs to get speedy clearance from the Centre for various projects. "We will request them to use their good offices with various Central ministries to get funds and clearance for these projects," he said.

Some of the projects pending approval include upgradation of 28 highways, revamping and improving national highway No 48 between Mangalore and Hassan, and release of funds for doubling Bangalore"�Mysore railway lines, gauge conversion for Bidar, Gulbarga, Shimoga, Talaguppa, Gadag and Bagalkot railway lines.

The state government had already agreed to provide land for airport at Shimoga, Bijapur, Bidar, Hassan and Gulbarga but not much has been done by the civil aviation ministry. The delegation will focus on early clearance of these projects, Purohit said.

Other than the New Mangalore Port, there is no other workable port in Karnataka. Proposals for the development of minor ports at Malpae, Tadri, etc have been pending for a long time.

Important proposals pending with the ministry of tourism include the integrated development of Nandi Hills costing Rs 33.46 crore, and development of Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga and Pattadakal under the Tourism Circuit Development Scheme costing Rs 12 crore.

Another big project of developing eco-tourism and adventure tourism facilities at Annejere and cable car facility from Kollur to Kodachadri costing about Rs 60.81 crore is also pending with the tourism ministry, he said.

A 400-Mw Gundia Hydro-Electric project, to be established by the KPCL, too is pending before the ministry of power for techno-economic clearance for the last one year. This clearance will help augment more power for the state.

This apart, the delegation will give details of various other small projects to the Parliament members, he said.

The delegation is also expected to discuss the matter relating to Cauveri Tribunal Award, amendment of APMC Act and FDI in retail trade, Purohit added.