Lack of land has hindered industrial growth in Karnataka’s Mandya: H.D. Kumaraswamy

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday said that shops at the newly-constructed market in Mandya will be allotted to those who have been doing business there for many years, and stated that there should be no confusion in this regard.

After inaugurating the newly-built Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Market on Pete Beedi, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that with the blessings of the people of Mandya district, he had become a Union Minister. “I have been in constant touch with the district administration and have directed officials to identify suitable land for setting up industries,” he said.

Stating that inadequate land availability had hindered industrial growth in Mandya, the Minister said that it was the State government’s responsibility to provide the necessary infrastructure.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that there are about 47 large industries under the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries, but only Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited is running profitably.

Pointing out that cities like Pune and Mumbai have witnessed rapid industrial growth, he said the government is ready to create employment opportunities in such cities, but youth from Mandya want jobs locally. This is one of the main reasons for the growing unemployment in the district, he informed.

The Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant established during the Mysore Maharajas’ era in Bhadravati is now defunct, but it will be revived within the next three to four months, creating about 8,000 to 10,000 jobs, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

MLA for Mandya Ravikumar said that the new market was built with ₹10 crore allocated by Union and local bodies. The shops will be allotted fairly as per the previous list, within the next 15 days, the MLA added.

Mandya City Municipal Council president M.V. Prakash recalled that the market was originally conceived by Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar in 1951 and inaugurated by the then Chief Minister B.D. Jatti in 1960.