The Dr Nanjundappa Committee appointed by the Karnataka government in its report rated Chamarajanagar, the border district with Tamil Nadu, as the most backward district in the State. To attract investments in the border district of Chamarajanagar, one of the most backward districts of Karnataka, the government decided to develop a new industrial park on 1,595 acres of land. The park would feature granite, textiles and leather, automobile and allied industries, besides agriculture related industries, including food processing units.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah laid the foundation stone for the park on June 23 in the presence of industrial leaders of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Minister for Cooperation and Sugar H.S. Mahadev Prasad, who is in charge of Chamarajangar district, told presspersons that about 300 investors had evinced interest in investing Rs. 12,000 crore during a road show conducted by the State government in association with Coimbatore district industries association and the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry about 18 months ago.
About Rs. 400 crore would be spent on creating infrastructure such as roads, water and power supply, and drainage system. A notification has been issued to acquire 1,595 acres at Badanaguppe and Kellamballi villages in the district. Of the total 1,595 acres, 1,200 acres is private land and 394.20 acres government land. So far, 53.08 acres had been handed over Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board.
Land has been set aside for different industries — 72.08 acres for granite, 83 acres for textiles, 64.07 acres for leather, 102 acres for automobile and general engineering, 46.03 acres for agro and food processing, 25 acres for ayurvedic products, and 251 acres for small industries. Land would be allocated to industries on a 99-year lease.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that about 300 investors have come forward to invest Rs 12,000 crore during a road show conducted by the State government, in association with the Coimbatore District Industries Association under the aegis of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The industrial park, when completed, is estimated to provide 25,000 jobs. Steps have been initiated to draw adequate water from Kabini River and for the installation of 66/11-kV substations to meet the power requirements. The State government has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the construction of a road from Kavalande to Chamarajanagar.
Stating that the State government has been encouraging the tier two and three cities in the State to increase the industrial sectors across the State, he said during the last two years term of Congress rule in the state about Rs 96,609 crores of investment for the 363 projects have been approved with employment opportunity for the more than 2.27 lakhs people, he claimed.
Siddaramaiah said that they expect more investors from Tamil Nadu to invest there and announced that air service to Coimbatore would be started and roads would be laid.
In January last year, as many as 200 investors signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) involving total investment proposals of over Rs 12,000 crore at a roadshow conducted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Coimbatore district for attracting investors to the border district of Chamarajanagar.
Siddaramaiah invited industry leaders from northwest Tamil Nadu to invest in his State’s border district Chamarajanagar, which was being developed as a green-field industrial hub.
“I invite you all to explore the diverse opportunities Chamarajanagar offers and benefit from incentives being provided to invest in the border district,” Siddaramaiah told about 500 industry leaders and entrepreneurs in Coimbatore.
The Chief Minister thanked the support extended by many trade associations like Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Coimbatore District Small Scale Industries Association (CODISSIA) and Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’ Association (SIEMA), Thiruppur Textile Association, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Karnataka Udyog Mitra for the success of the Coimbatore Roadshow.
Public Works Minsiter Dr H C Mahavappa, Cooperation Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad and Higher Education and Tourism Minister R V Deshpande, who addressed the investors, said the State Government would provide all necessary infrastructure facilities to investors for setting up their units in Chamarajanagar and other parts of Karnataka.
But Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha was all along denying that investments were fleeing from the State. She had been insisting that industrialists from Coimbatore in the State have decided not to invest in Karnataka despite an invitation from her Karnataka counterpart.
Addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Pollachi on March 31 last year, the ADMK general secretary said: “Karnataka Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) invited industrialists to start their units in Chamarajanagar. Industrialists in Coimbatore attended that meeting.” She said nothing was decided as to who would set up a factory and the extent of land to be allotted. Stating that there was no infrastructure in Chamarajanagar for industries, she said industrialists who attended the investors meet held earlier this year later said they went just because they were invited. Jayalalitha said it was the DMK which was spreading false information that industrialists from Tamil Nadu were migrating to Karnataka.
Now, with the foundation stone for the park on June 23 in the presence of industrial leaders of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha should be asked who was spreading false information, she or the DMK! (28 June 2015)
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