The state government’s efforts to attract major industrial houses to the Hubli-Dharwad region may be yielding results. Toyota Kirloskar has shown inclination to set up a components manufacturing unit in Hubli-Dharwad.
Minister for major and medium industries Murugesh Nirani told reporters here on Tuesday the company officials had responded positively to his pleas to set up the unit in the twin cities. “They have agreed in principle to set up their unit here,” he said.
Nirani said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board would acquire 500 acres near the Belur Industrial area to develop it as an industrial township.
The township, besides having facilities to house industrial units, will also have residential township for the people employed in the units to stay. This will help avoid congestion in the city and avoid traffic snarls, Nirani asserted.
The minister said the land allotted to the industries if found not being utilised for even two years after allotment, would be taken back and allotted to other needy units. He clarified that the land would not be returned to the farmer.
Stating that the new industrial policy draft had been finalised Nirani said it would be launched on a website to elicit opnions and suggestions. Based on the suggestions received, the final policy resolution will be published, he explained.
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Regarding the Malaprabha Third Phase work to supply drinking water to Hubli-Dharwad from Savadatti, Nirani said the Rs 186 crore project would be revIewed in the wake of the escalating costs.
A meeting of high level officers of Karnataka Urban Water Supply Board would be convened in Bangalore on August 12 to discuss the issue in detail, he said.
The local officers of the KUWSSB want the estimate to be reviewed and they are asking for Rs 500 crore for implementing the project.
The state government has released Rs 50 crore of the Rs 186 crore but not much has been done to utilise the funds already released. Nirani said he would take third party opinion before preparing the revised estimate.
He claimed that justice has been done to Hubli-Dharwad in budgetary allocation and the funds allotted would be properly used.
Replying to a question on the government not making any budgetary provision to bail out the KCC Bank, Nirani said he would convince the chief minister and get the required funds to help the bank come out of the crisis.
To check the misuse of BPL cards, the government would ensure each fair price shop will maintain a register having details of the card holders along with the photo. Ration would be provided to those card holders whose photo in the card matches with that in the register.
When reporters drew his attention to the problem of drinking water shortage in rural parts of the district in Navalgund taluk, Nirani assured he would instruct officials to solve the problem in a week.
He said he would meet the home minister and chief minister to get new police stations and staff sanctioned for the twin cities.