Hyderabad Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (HKCCI), on Monday, wrote to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Medium and Large Industries Minister K.J. George demanding that they get the final approval for establishing the proposed National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Kalaburagi.
The letter, signed by HKCCI president Amarnath C. Patil and secretary Shashikanth B. Patil, urged the State government to hasten the process to establish NIMZ here “to quell the demand for statehood” and boost economic development of the region.
Hailing the Chief Minister’s statement during his recent visit to Hubballi dismissing attempts to project him as anti-North Karnataka and expressing his commitment to the development of the region as a “morale booster”, the HKCCI said that the people of Hyderabad Karnataka region would, with great hopes, look forward to the Chief Minister for Hyderabad Karnataka-specific policies, apart from regular release of special grants to Hyderabad Karnataka Regional Development Board (HKRDB) under Article 371(J) of the Constitution.
The Union government sanctioned National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) for Kalaburagi in 2014, in pursuance of the National Manufacturing Policy announced in 2011 to boost GDP growth to 25 % and to create 100 million jobs.
The State government identified 12,500 acres of land, including portions of government land, in the district.
It also undertook a techno-feasibility study through Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Services (ILFS) at a cost of ₹ 10 crore.
The Kalaburagi NIMZ is expected to attract ₹ 25,000 crore investments and provide one lakh direct employment and 1.60 lakh indirect employment.
The letter says that the State government, after identifying the land for the project, has not submitted its techno-economic feasibility study to the Union government for the final approval.
“We strongly believe that industrialisation of Hyderabad Karnataka region with the establishment of NIMZ in Kalaburagi wholly depends on the strong political will of the State government to win the hearts of the people of the region which will go a long way in averting the demand for statehood,” the letter reads.