From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 23: In a novel initiative to make Bengaluru as electric vehicle capital of India, Karnataka government will soon come out with a new “electric vehicle and energy storage policy.”
The policy is aimed at reducing pollution and promote healthy environment, Major and Medium Industries Minister R V Deshpande told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
The Major and Medium Industries Department was formulating the policy, perhaps the first of kind in the country, in consultations with various stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturing industries.
Deshpande, who spoke about the State’s achievements in the industrial sector during the last four years, said many developed countries have formulated the policy to promote electric vehicles. Currently, many customers refused to buy electric vehicles citing high cost of battery.
“Electric vehicles are future vehicles. To make Bengaluru as electric vehicle capital of India and Karnataka as environment friendly state, the Government would soon bring out the “electric vehicle and energy storage policy”, Deshpande said.
Noting that Karnataka secured top position in the country in attracting investment in 2016-2017with investment of Rs 1,54,173 crore, he said another batch of investments worth Rs 6113.29 crore would be cleared in the first week of September.
MRPL to invest Rs 966 cr in Harihara
TVS Motor Company Ltd has proposed to invest Rs 1110 crore to expand its plant at Bytahalli, Kadakola in Mysuru for generating 800 jobs, while the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (PL) has decided to invest Rs 966 crore at Anagwadi Industrial Area Harihara.
Other major companies that have decided to invest are: IKEA - Rs 810 crore, SAP Labs India Pvt Ltd - Rs 499 crore, Acebright India Pharma Ltd - Rs 492 crore, Desano Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd - Rs 475 crore, Adani Cementation Ltd - Rs 410 crore, Molex India Pvt Ltd - Rs 340 crore, Aditya Birla Solar Ltd - Rs 325 crore, HNI Autotech Pvt Ltd - Rs 242 crore, Prosperity Textile Processors Pvt Ltd - Rs 196.79 crore, Ather Energy Pvt Ltd - Rs 47.50 crore.
The State Government has already cleared investment of Rs 2438 crore from Oracle India Pvt Ltd in IT/ITES Special Economic Zone and Wipro Enterprises Pvt Ltd - Rs112 crore in Aerospace SEZ in Devanahhli taluk, Deshpande said.
The Minister said talks were on for establishment of Japanese Industrial Township at Vasanth Narasapura in Tumakuru on 500 acres.
Consultation was on with JETRO to promote Japanese investment in the State, Deshpande said.