Industrialists to govt: Stop step-motherly attitude towards Belagavi

Belagavi: The industrial fraternity here has passed a strong message to the government, about shifting their operations to neighbouring Goa and Maharashtra states, if it continues with their “stepmotherly” treatment towards Belagavi.
The industrial bodies here are upset with the government, for dropping Belagavi from many projects, and recently from building high-tech cities and dedicated startup parks in the state. The bodies are also unhappy for shifting many projects to Hubballi, which were principally sanctioned to Belagavi.
The Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) convened a meeting of all major industrial bodies and local public representatives, here on Monday. City (South) MLA Abhay Patil chaired the meeting, aimed at discussing the next course of action.
Sachin Sabnis, president, state unit of Laghu Udyog Bharati, said high land cost was a major hurdle to the growth of industries, especially in Belagavi. In the newly developed Kittur and Kanagala industrial areas, the government has fixed Rs 65 lakh per acre, which is unaffordable. In Maharashtra, the cost at Gadahinglaj industrial area is just Rs 12 lakh an acre, while it’s just Rs 8 lakh at the Ajara industrial area. He said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board is acting like a profit-making body.
Belgaum Foundry Cluster chairman Ram Bhandare said Maharashtra has earmarked a large amount of land in Kolhapur district for industry and is inviting industrialists from Belagavi to invest there. “They have promised a low cost for land, and rebate in tax,” he said.
Bhandare said that at an investors’ meet in Goa a fortnight ago, the government there also invited industrialists from Belagavi, promising them many facilities, including single-window clearance. “We want to carry out our business in Belagavi, but we are not getting fair treatment from the government. We feel the government is purposely doing this,” he said.
Bhandare said some industries have got a large amount of land in Belagavi, but are not using it, like Hindalco Industrial. “The government can plan another industrial estate for small industries, if even 50% unused land is withdrawn from Hindalco, which would be over 600 acres.”
Prabhu Yatnatti, president of Belagavi Bar Association, said the government has failed to provide a building for a consumer forum, for three years, besides not sanctioning land for a Karnataka Administrative Tribunal. “This is happening because of lack of will of public representatives,” he said.
To discuss all this, industrial bodies have decided to take a delegation to meet CM Basavaraj Bommai. MLA Abhay Patil has confirmed the CM’s appointment at 4pm on Thursday in Bengaluru.
Patil said, “Three months ago, the government dropped Belagavi from the ‘safe zone’ area, and now from building high-tech cities and start-up parks. The government can’t snatch our rights away, by giving us a Suvarna Vidhana Soudha-like lollipop. Public representatives were supposed to speak about this injustice, but have not... We will do it during the winter session,” he said.