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Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil on Wednesday (October 29) said that the tax collected from industries will henceforth be utilised for the development of infrastructure in industrial areas under the proposed Special Investment Region (SIR) scheme. Presiding over a meeting with office-bearers of various industrial associations of Mysuru at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Minister said that Karnataka aims to become a model industrial State in the country. He noted that several steps have been taken to improve roads in industrial areas after the Congress government came to power. “Earlier, the tax collected from industries was being used by local bodies such as gram panchayats and city councils for other purposes. Now, under the SIR scheme, the same funds will be redirected for local infrastructure works including roads, drainage, and other essential facilities,” the Minister said. He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru to inquire into the alleged irregularities in the distribution of compensation in the Himmavu Industrial Area and submit a detailed report. Mr. Patil assured that the implementation period for industries that have faced delays in land allotment from the government would be extended. Industrial concerns and farmers’ issues Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Lingaraju raised several issues, including poor road conditions in the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) Industrial Area, pending tenders for road works despite industries paying taxes to the Hootagalli City Council, and the delay in allotment of industrial plots. He also sought bus connectivity to the Hebbal Industrial Area and the construction of a flyover near the Outer Ring Road junction at Manipal Hospital. Representatives of other industrial associations pointed out that some units could not be established in the Himmavu Industrial Area due to non-cooperation from farmers. They requested a three-year extension to set up their industries. They also stated that the compensation was yet to be paid to around 50 farmers, and that 76 acres in Hadaganahalli had not yet been handed over to the KIADB. During the meeting, farmer leaders alleged that though ₹18 crore had been released towards compensation in the Himmavu area, only 448 beneficiaries had been paid. They claimed that many of them were ineligible while genuine farmers were left out. They also complained that displaced families had not been provided employment opportunities. Mysuru district in charge Secretary S. Selvakumar, Industries Commissioner Gunjan Krishna, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, office-bearers of various industrial associations, and officials from different departments were present.
