Investment cap for SSIs to be hiked to Rs 15 cr: CM

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has announced that the limit of investment for small scale industries (SSIs) will be increased from Rs three crore to Rs 15 crore, and a separate secretary will be appointed to the new SSI department.

Speaking after inaugurating the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the North Karnataka Small-Scale Industries Association (NKSSIA) here on Saturday, Shettar said the move will help set up the SSIs fast, as the proposal for SSIs with the new limit will be cleared at the level of the deputy commissioner.

He said a separate department with a separate secretary will help solve the problems of the SSIs effectively. Steps will also be taken to release the pending subsidy for the SSIs.

To simplify the land acquisition process for setting up the industries fast, attempts will be made to simplify rules and to amend land acquisition and revenue acts.

If farmers voluntarily give land for the industries, a period of 45 days is given to them for registration, and this duration can be reduced with due amendments, he said.

He said, 7,254 km of the State Highways are being improved at a cost of Rs 2,794 crore, and Rs 20 crore has been given for the development of industrial estates.

The first phase of Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline laying works will be completed by this month end. SSI Minister Raju Gowda, Tourism Minister Anand Singh, MP Prahlad Joshi, and others were present.

Following the arrest of terror suspects, the chief minister said that steps will be taken to strengthen the Police, Intelligence system. Required staff, new technology, and also, modern weapons will be provided to the Police department.

“Plans are afoot to recruit more policemen and provide modern weapons to the Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissionerate, and steps will be taken to set up more police stations here,” he said.

When mediapersons asked him about the increasing suspected terrorist activities in Hubli, Shettar said that terrorist activities were not restricted to north Karnataka region but are spread across the country.