Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Nov 7: "My priority is to establish industries and generate employment for locals. I wanted to decentralize industry sector from Bengaluru to other eligible districts. We have introduced new industrial policy for ease of doing business,” said state Industries minister Jagadish Shettar.
He was speaking at a review meeting of industrial development, held at Dr V S Acharya hall here on Friday, November 6. On MLA Raghupati Bhat’s demand, the minister agreed to have furniture cluster in Udupi near to the city area.
“I am ready to announce furniture cluster for Udupi, but investors should be there. It should not get wasted without investors,” the minister clarified.
“About 4,000 acres land is being developed as industrial area in Raichur. If we get Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies here, definitely it will help out to generate employments for 20,000 to 30,000 people. An industrial area is being developed in Belikeri in Karwar. DPR is being prepared. Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned to develop infrastructure there,” he said.
Shettar instructed the industry department officials to inspect the industries whether they are following industrial norms or not.
“There is less availability of land here in Udupi to start new industries. For establishing an industrial area, a minimum of 500 acres of land is required. For now, we will provide infrastructure to the existing industrial area,” he said.
The minister also said that locals working in industries should not be removed from their jobs.
MLA Raghupati Bhat stressed that Udupi is a very suitable district to start a furniture cluster. “There is Malpe harbour due to which it is very easy to import materials from another country through sea. There are skilled persons for furniture designing.
“Due to lack of land availability in Udupi, we need to lookout for land in Kundapur and Karkala,” he said.
The MLA alleged that Suzlon company started real estate business in the land which they purchased from farmers for less price.
Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, president of Coastal Development authority, said that according to WMIC norms, industry should recruit 70% locals as employees, but only 47% percent locals are working in these companies.
Adani Group’s Kishore Alva said that UPCL has started its second phase of work and has occupied 168 acres. He also informed that UPCL has contributed Rs 20 crore under CSR activities.
Deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha, Shivashankar, CEO of Karnataka Industrial area development board, Kota Srinivas Poojary, fort and inland water transport minister, Halady Srinivas Shetty, MLA Kundapur, Raghavendra Kini, president, Udupi district development authority, Dinakar Babu, president, zilla panchayat, Sheela K Shetty, vice president, Sumithra Nayak, president, City Municipality Council Udupi, Lakshmi Manjunath Kola, vice president, and Gokuldas Naik, joint director, Commerce and Industry Department Mangaluru and Udupi, were present.