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The state government formally approved more than 2,400 hectres of
land for setting up 45 special economic zones (SEZs) in Karnataka
expected to bring in total investment of over Rs 24,000 crore.
The approved SEZs include 33 IT/ITeS companies with investment worth
over Rs 18,000 crore. On Friday, major and medium industries minister
Murgesh R Nirani said the approved SEZs could generate 10 lakh jobs
in the next few years.
Nirani, who owns two cement units and a sugar factory in Bagalkot
district, said: "As an industrialist, I am aware of investors'
problems. This government wants to create an investor-friendly climate
in the state.''
Investment to the tune of Rs 3,384 crore and earmarking 112 hectres
exclusively for airport-based SEZ has been formally approved. Sector-specific
product SEZs contribute Rs 1,824 crore and hardware and BT SEZs
Rs 633 crore and Rs 750 crore respectively.
The Centre, which gives in-principle approvals for all SEZs in the
country, has given its nod to only 8 SEZs in Karnataka having total
investments of Rs 20,220 crore, including Rs 400 crore from the
IT/ITeS sectors.
Nirani said the government, without going in for acquisition of
fertile land, will seek the consent of the farmers before developing
a SEZ. "Of the developed land, about 20% will be given to farmers,
besides employment to one member from the family,'' he said.
Proposed seven exclusive industrial zones
Steel zone - Bellary, Koppal, Raichur district
Cement zone - Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bijapur
Food processing zone - Shimoga, Mysore, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Kolar,
Bangalore Rural
IT/ BT zone - Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum
Automobile zone - Dharwad and Bangalore
Readymade garment zone - Bangalore, Bellary and Mysore
Petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals complex - Mangalore and
Udupi
In-principle nod for Nandagudi
Major and medium industries minister Murgesh R Nirani said that
the government has given in principle approval for the Nandagudi
SEZ, but its promoters have to acquire land.
Keeping regional interests in mind and also to focus on the rapid
development of backward areas, Nirani said the government proposed
setting up of seven exclusive industrial zones to promote industries
in steel, cement, food processing, IT/BT, petrochemicals, automobile
and readymade garments.
Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai corridor
Nirani said the Centre has taken up a feasibility study on the
multi-crore Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai (CBM) industrial corridor.
The proposed CBM corridor, on the lines of Chennai-Bangalore corridor,
will establish connectivity from Bangalore to Belgaum covering 11
districts and 20 towns. "To make Karnataka a leading industrialized
state and to enhance the level of investments, we propose to develop
industries along 100-150 kms on both sides of the corridor,'' Nirani
said.
In a meeting convened by department of industries policy and promotion
(DIPP) in the Union ministry of commerce and industries involving
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh governments for consultation
on Chennai-Bangalore corridor proposal a few months ago, the Centre
gave positive signals for the state's move to connect and extend
the Chennai-Bangalore industrial corridor till Mumbai. This could
pave the way for conducting a feasibility report on CBM corridor.
New industrial policy
In a move to boost industrial development, the industries minister
proposes to modify the existing industrial policy. "The government
wants to bring in more investment to the state through unveiling
a new industrial policy in the next three months,'' Nirani said.
He said modifications would be carried out to the existing policy
of 2006-11. Industrial policies of Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan would be studied before framing the new
policy, Nirani added.
Source: TNN
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