The State High Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC), headed by the chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, on Saturday cleared 69 new industrial investment proposals worth Rs 87,494 crore. This was the first meeting of SHLCC after the recently concluded global investors’ meet (GIM).
The tourism and power sectors accounted for almost half the value of the proposed investments that were given “in-principle” approval by the committee. The projects are expected to provide jobs to about 130,000 people in 23 districts. The state government would sign memorandums of understanding with the project promoters later, state minister for large and medium industries Murugesh R Nirani said.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, he said among the “big ticket” proposals the Abu Dhabi-based Ma’rib Group, which plans to establish a theme park near Chickaballapur with an investment of Rs 18,400 crore. The group, headed by Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Khaled Al Nahyan, proposes to set up a “Space City,” he said.
Nirani said “The promoters will submit a master plan for the project, which will occupy 1,600 acres.” A company team would visit Bangalore in July with more details of the project.
He said the total quantum of investment cleared by the government now stands at Rs 4.33 lakh crore in 237 projects, including the projects that were cleared during the GIM. He said the Government has designated senior officers for each of the major sectors to expedite investments.
Asked if there would be enough iron ore in the State to meet the demand of the new steel plants, V P Baligar, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, said: “Our intention is to see that iron ore is not exported but is used for value addition within the State.”
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He said no approvals for steel capacities would be given to those who do not have a mining lease. “Clearances for 8 to 10 projects had been deferred because we wanted to verify the investors’ capacity to invest in the proposed projects,” he added.
The high level committee meeting cleared 22 power projects with a total capacity of 5,000 Mw, which include conventional as well as non-conventional energy projects. There were two thermal power projects, 14 gas-based and 6 non-conventional energy projects. Lanco Infra, Bhoruka Power and Kaminini Group are some of the investors in this sector.
More than 52 per cent of the proposals cleared are in for North Karnataka.
Among the projects cleared at the meeting were investments by Coca Cola for a unit in Yadgir district for Rs 250 crore, a proposal by Rajesh Exports for a gems and jewellery park near Devanahalli (Rs 460 crore), a proposal by Etco denim to establish a spinning, weaving, dyeing unit in Bijapur (Rs 316 crore), a proposal by the Manipal Group to establish a multidisciplinary education campus near Doddaballapur (Rs 650 crore), a proposal by the Marg Group to establish a knowledge hub in Dharwad district (Rs 980 crore), and a proposal by the Sagar Group to establish a tertiary education centre in Chickballapur (Rs 96 crore).