Daijiworld Media Network - Davanagere (MS)
Davanagere, Aug 10: "The officials of Karnataka Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (KSSIDC) and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), who have astronomically hiked the rates of industrial sites in comparison to the market rate, should be hanged to death," said S R Srinivas, minister for small-scale industries, expressing his outrage.
He was speaking at the progress verification meeting of various departments that was organized at the zilla panchayat here on Thursday, August 9. Continuing his barrage against the officials Srinivas said, "KSSIDC and KIADB are getting the land from the government and developing the sites and fixing a rate of Rs one to two crore. However, private land which is adjacent to these sites is available at a meagre Rs 10 lac. It has come to light when I have undertaken a tour at various places in the state, that in the name of development the rates of the plot are increased exorbitantly. Because of this entrepreneurs are not coming forward to start small-scale industries."
"I am verifying the facts by visiting few industrial areas personally. A thorough inquiry will be conducted with regards to this issue. Action will be taken on the officials who have given instructions to increase the price of the plots," he warned.
"Unnecessarily concrete road of one-foot thickness and drainage are being constructed. The government might have lost more than Rs 500 crore because of this. The development expenses of the land need to be reduced and plots should be provided at affordable rates to the entrepreneurs who want to start small-scale industries. In certain places sale deed is not given to the industrialists since 20 years. District commissioners have to take this on priority and provide sale deeds through one-window system," he instructed.