Mysuru: Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande yesterday said that Industries and Commerce Department has proposed to acquire more lands in Mysuru district for the formation of industrial areas.

Addressing a press conference at a private hotel in city, the Minister said that some major industries have been demanding additional lands to set up their facilities. “The department has proposed for acquiring 189 acres of land in Kochanahalli, 63 acres in Adakanahalli, 70 acres in Thandya and 30 acres in Kallahalli,” he said.

“The district has 12 industrial areas, with a total area of 5,976 acres and five industrial estates with an area of 147 acres. The State Government has spent Rs. 12 crore for the upgradation  of infrastructure in the existing industrial areas and estates. Another Rs. 61 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has invested Rs. 100 crore for creating infrastructure in the new industrial areas,” he added.

“The State is much suitable for companies to succeed and the government is committed to provide all support and facilities to ensure ease of doing business. The government is offering the best incentives to attract new investments in the State,” he said. The government has incorporated a non-profit company ‘Invest Karnataka Forum’ to promote industries, he added.

Karnataka retained the first position in 2017 (till November 2017) with investment intentions of Rs. 1,49,847 crore, accounting for 42.9% of the total investment intention in the country,     he said.

Gujarat, which has been pushed to the second position by Karnataka, received investment intentions of Rs. 77,000 crore during 2017 (till November), Deshpande said, citing statistics published by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India.

In the manufacturing sector, the State has contributed 14.76% of finished products, while the national average is 14%. Karnataka attracts 32% share in the total investments in the country, he claimed.

From being in the 11th position in terms of attracting investments during the BJP regime, Karnataka has galloped to the first position in the country in the last four-and-a-half years of the Congress administration,   he claimed.

“We have generated 12.16 lakh jobs in the last four years and of this, 10.28 lakh jobs are in micro, small and medium enterprises sector and 1.88 lakh jobs in large industries. Another 6.25 lakh are in the pipeline. With this, the rate of unemployment in the State has declined to about 2%,” Deshpande said.

Bengaluru second capital

Deshpande, who has made out a case for according Bengaluru the status of the second capital of the country, is averse to Karnataka having a second capital. He said there is no need for a second capital for Karnataka “as of now”.

MLA and Mysuru Industrial Association (MIA) President Vasu,   Whole Time Director of Automotive Axles Dr. N. Muthukumar, JK Tyres Vice President Umesh K. Shenoy, Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industries President A.S. Satish, former MIA President P. Vishwanath, Secretary Suresh Kumar Jain, Joint Director of District Industries Council H. Ramakrishnegowda and others were present.

Flights between Mysuru and Goa

Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande has urged Air India to consider introducing flights between Mysuru and Goa. He said that he had discussed with the newly appointed Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Pradeep Singh Kharola the issue of connecting Mysuru and Goa to promote tourism in Karnataka. He also urged Air India to consider operating flights between Goa and   Hampi.

Also, the State Government is trying to open Bidar Airport for civilian flights. Deshpande said the government is in talks with GMR Group, which built the international airport at Hyderabad, for relaxation of its condition against opening an airport within 150 km.