Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar has said the State lost Hero Motocorp manufacturing unit to Andhra Pradesh due to the lackadaisical attitude of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a function here on Friday, Mr. Shettar said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu snatching the Hero MotoCorp unit from the State was a serious setback for industrial development, particularly in north Karnataka.
Though Hero MotoCorp was eager to set up the unit in Dharwad, the State government did not take the issue seriously. The government simply washed its hands off after setting up a Cabinet subcommittee to study Hero Motocorp’s demands. It was a pity that the subcommittee failed to give any representation to the company forcing Hero MotoCorp, which was unhappy with the government’s negligent attitude, to shift its plant to Andhra Pradesh, he added. This issue was raised during the legislature session many times. But, Mr. Siddaramaiah did not take it seriously, he said.
The government should provide certain concessions to companies willing to set up industries in north Karnataka region and not heed to the demands of those setting up industrial units in Bangalore. “Bangalore has grown extensively, and now it cannot withstand any further growth. Preference should be given to developing Mumbai-Karnataka region. Industrialists visiting State should be asked to step up out of Bangalore and create a vendor base in NK,” Mr. Shettar said.
