No firms leaving Karnataka over infra gaps, says govt | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: The govt Tuesday insisted no firm has left Karnataka due to poor infrastructure, even as the opposition flagged concerns over firms moving out. Replying on behalf of industries minister MB Patil, urban development minister Byrathi Suresh told the legislative council, that the state continued to be a prime investment destination. N Ravi Kumar of BJP countered the claim, pointing out that Toyota Kirloskar Motor had decided to set up a new electric vehicle manufacturing unit in Maharashtra instead of Karnataka, despite its existing base in Bidadi. Responding to this, Suresh said, “Toyota’s decision was primarily to do with their intent to expand their footprint outside Karnataka. In fact, their biggest manufacturing plant continues to be in Bidadi.” He said neither Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board nor the govt had any role in the company’s decision. To support his claim, Suresh said the high-level clearance committee had approved 2,028 projects worth Rs 5.1 lakh crore over the past three years, generating employment for over one lakh people. “In the same period, KIADB has allotted 2,954 acres of land to as many as 1,440 firms,” he said. Raising a separate concern, Congress member Umashree said many newly announced KIADB industrial parks were struggling to attract industries due to inadequate infrastructure. Defending the govt, Suresh said the projects were being implemented in stages. “While some are nearing completion, others are in progress or yet to start. But all of them will be developed in a phased manner,” he said. The govt also outlined plans for major industrial townships: Tumakuru industrial township will be developed in three phases over about 8,313 acres, while the one in Dharwad is spread over 3,000 acres and will be built in partnership with the Centre. Officials said the Tumakuru project is expected to generate around 83,000 jobs, while the Dharwad township could provide employment to about 75,000 people.
