We want land for industrial estate: Kassia

Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia) has sought 250 acres of land from the government to set up an industrial estate for small businesses in Bangalore. Kassia is the apex body of small scale industries in the state.

Addressing a press meet here on Friday, Hareesh P Hegde, president, Kassia said the government through the KIADB has indicated areas on Kanakapura Road, Tumkur Road and Magadi Road and has left it to the association to make a choice.

A special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be floated to encourage small industries to locate there. Common amenities like effluent treatment plant, power plant and central store houses are being planned, he added.

At the industrial estate, 500-600 units mainly from the fields of engineering, auto components and powder-coating are to be housed with an acre of land costing Rs 30-40 lakh.

Kassia also plans to hold an international expo and national convention of small industries in May 2006 to give exposure to entrepreneurs and small industries in the state.

As part of strengthening mofussil associations which number around 70 in the state, Kassia plans to conduct joint programmes and network the associations for quick dissemination of information and handling of grievances.

"A request is being made to the state government to set up a North Karnataka Industries Development (NKID) Task Force and also to create a separate mofussil entrepreneurs assistance cell in Kassia," said Hegde.

He added that Kassia is adopting Basavanabagewadi and Muddebihal in Bijapur district and H D Kote in Mysore district as part of its plan to adopt backward taluks.

This year Kassia is also taking up a Rs 5 crore project to set up the Kassia Udyog Bhavan consisting of a business centre, information kiosk, incubation centre, product development-cum-design units, auditorium, business school.