Mysuru: With reports indicating that Andhra Pradesh is making efforts  to convince the Centre to relocate Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to Andhra Pradesh, former Mysuru Mayor Sandesh Swamy has urged the Government to revive all the industries set up by the erstwhile Mysore Maharajas.

In a press statement, Sandesh Swamy said that the Karnataka Government should take immediate measures for revival of all industries set up by the erstwhile Mysore Maharajas. Pointing out that HAL is one of the prestigious industry set up at Bengaluru in 1940, he accused the State Government of unnecessarily blaming the Centre, instead of taking measures to retain PSUs in the State.

Stating that iconic industries such as Silk Factory, Sandalwood Oil factory, Mysuru Sandal Soap factory, Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Works, Kolar Gold Fields, Bhadravathi Cement factory, Mysore Paper Mills etc., were all established by the Mysore Maharajas decades ago, he bemoaned that these industries were now either shut down or on the blink of closure because of the Government’s apathy, poor management and failure to run or revive them.

Charging the State Government of creating unnecessary controversies instead of focussing on revival of these prestigious industries, he alleged that ‘commission’ may be behind the appointment of actress Tamannaah Bhatia as the Brand Ambassador for Mysore Sandal Soap, who has been paid a whopping Rs. 6.2 crore. He wondered how the Government industries can survive if such wasteful expenditures are made.