Industry bodies submit wish list to CM ahead of budget

Representatives of various industry bodies, including FKCCI and KASSIA, on Mondaysubmitted their wish list, that includes creation of new Bangalore and reduction of VAT rate by 0.5 per cent, to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is scheduled to present 2014-15 State budget on February 14.

Besides, the industry bodies urged the chief minister to give priority to upgrade infrastructure. 

The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) in its memorandum stressed on the need for creation of a new Bangalore on the outskirts of the City in order to attract industries.

The FKCCI urged the chief minister to create six new industrial corridors – Doddaballapur and Chikkaballapur; Chikkballapur and Devanahalli; Hubli and Dharwad; Mysore and Hassan; Mysore and Bangalore; Hoskote and Kolar. It has also said that the government could project Chamarajnagar district as an attractive investment destination.

The Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) urged the chief minister to make it mandatory for all State public sector undertakings to procure at least 20 per cent of their requirements from small scale sector, abolition of trade licence system and reduce property tax rate for industrial units.

The KASSIA also said delay in acquisition of land by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has been leading to escalation in purchase price of land to those proposing to set up industries. The government should ensure that there is no delay in land acquisition, the association stated in its memorandum.

The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) said the software sector has been facing multiple litigations under the Karnataka VAT laws and urged the chief minister to set up a forum to enable the dealers to present their concerns and arrive at a consensus.

This apart, representatives of APMC, textile units, hotels, wholesale traders, film chamber and all regional industry bodies also presented their wish list to the chief minister.