Deshpande, in a press conference, said he too had signed many MoUs in the past as Industries Minister. He was well aware of the plight of MoUs signed. “Instead of signing MoUs the government should have issued letters approving project proposals,” he said.
He also criticised terming the event Global Investors Meet. There were no foreign investors. All were Indians. It was only an Indian Investors Meet rather than a Global Investors Meet.
Kharge’s caution
Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge took exception to the State Government’s proposed move to provide agricultural land for industrial use.
“ We need to create investors confidence by providing them infrastructure roads, power, but putting fertile agricultural land for industrial use can have disastrous consequences. It will not only threaten the agricultural sector but also hamper equitable growth”, Kharge said in his address at the closing ceremony of the two-day Global Investors Meet.
In the run-up to GIM, the State Government has proposed to permit private companies to buy up to five acres of agricultural lands in 100 selected tourist places across the State for starting hotels.
Kharge said the move was not advisable as it would threaten the food security of the country.
However, later in his address, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa clarified that the government will not take any step that would affect farmers adversely.
DH News Service