HDK seeks allotment of land from State government to establish ARAI facility in Mandya

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said he has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking allotment of land for setting up a facility for Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), a Union government undertaking, in Mandya.

Speaking to reporters in Mandya on January 23, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he is working towards establishing an industry-friendly environment in the district, which he represents in the Lok Sabha. An assessment also is under way to establish industries through the Centre’s Ministry of Heavy Industries. The ARAI comes within the purview of the Ministry.

He was fielding queries from reporters on his assurance to help establish industries in Mandya district and the questions raised by Congress leaders on the issue.

“There is no need for unnecessary politics in this matter. Development of the district is everyone’s responsibility. The Deputy Commissioner had said there is no land. Is there any possibility of providing land through the MLA? The Congress leaders are doing politics over this issue,” the Minister lamented.

He came down heavily on the Congress government in the State for its failure to attract investors to the State and cited an example of a group of young promoters from Karnataka who had submitted a proposal to set up a rare earth magnet manufacturing industry.. 

He said the investors, who claimed that they will not receive support from the Karnataka government, had asked him to prevail over Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for land near Visakhapatnam, which also has a port.

Blaming the Congress government for creating such a “bad situation” in the State, Mr. Kumaraswamy said not a single Minister from the State government had discussed development matters with him. Not only for industries, no one has met him or held discussions even for any other development work, he alleged.

‘Government for brokers’

Mr. Kumaraswamy also attacked the State government for acting in a manner that benefits middlemen instead of farmers.

When the prices of some crops collapse, putting the farmers in financial distress, the State government waits for middlemen to purchase the produce from farmers at a low price before opening procurement centres. Claiming that the delay facilitates the middlemen to sell the produce at a higher price, Mr. Kumaraswamy described the present government as a “government for the brokers”.