New law to acquire land for SSIs: Minister

Small Scale Industries Minister Satish Jarkiholi has said a new Act would be brought in to empower the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation (KSSIDC) to acquire land, so that more industrial estates could be developed fast.

Speaking at an interaction programme with industrialists at the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Wednesday, he said the plan was to allow KSSIDC to hold negotiations with farmers directly and acquire land up to 50 acres for each industrial estate.

New industrial estates could not be developed in the past several years due to lack of land. After placing the demand, the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, which comes under the Major Industries Department, takes several years to allot land to develop industrial estates. A proposal to allow KSSIDC to acquire land for developing industrial estates would be submitted to the government within a month, the minister said.

Of the 391 grievances received from small scale industries, only 100 could be redressed so far, as the officials concerned are busy with ‘Invest Karnataka’.

The remaining grievances would be redressed after holding meetings with other departments concerned after the investment meet and attempts would be also made to get funds in the budget for the development of industrial estates, Jarkiholi added.