Mangaluru: Managing Director of Karnataka State Small scale Industries Development Corporation (KSSIDC), Mohammad Moshin held a meeting to address the grievances of Small Scale Industrialists of Dakshina Kannada district at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, State Bank here, on January 2.
Earlier a meeting of industrialist was called, in which the small scale industrialists association stressed on grass root development of Yeyyadi industrial area and a proposal was submitted to the government in this regard. The corporation had assured that the proposal would be duly examined and adequate steps would be taken up to ensure the development of the small scale industry at the grass root level.
Speaking to the gathering, Mohsin said, “Initiatives like ‘Make in India’ taken up by the government will only be successful with the success of small scale industries. Of course there are many hurdles that we need to overcome in order to achieve success of small scale industries.” The industrialists were then asked to submit their grievances.
An industrialist said that he had been allotted a land, for which he had submitted all relevant documents, and money was paid towards the purchase of the land for which he had valid proof. “But the officers at the corporation have their own views. When I approach them to submit my documents they just take my documents and make me go from pillar to pillar. My file has never reached the authority from past many years,” he added.
“I was paying taxes for 90% of extra building space which never came under my occupation from the past 16 years. I have relevant copies of the complaint letters I had forwarded to the KSSIDC, but no officer has cared to address my grievance and I have never received any reply from the authority in this regard,” said another industrialist. “The land meant for industrial purpose is being encroached by private houses who are now asking us to stop our vacate due to inconvenience they face from our industry,” he added.
When Mohsin asked an engineer to go through the documents and verify with the corporation, the industrialist said, “The engineers are sleeping, as per the rules a buffer zone has to be created near an industry so that no inconvenience is cause to any private land owner, but that rule is just on the papers and no such buffer zone is created.”
“Section 144 is not meant for people working inside an industry, but whenever the section is imposed, police approach us as goondas wielding lati’s and use ‘near abusive’ language and ask us to shut our operation. We are not scared of the goondas but we are scared of the police,” said an industrialist.
Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim said, “Engineers and surveyors have to ensure that periodic visits of the industrial areas are done and any grievances should be addressed at the earliest.”
“KSSIDC has set up a total of 175 industrial colonies in the state that house 6193 establishments and 7640 industrial sites. Skill developmental training of 6 lakh youths is also undertaken by the corporation in the rural areas. This initiative is taken up to provide employment to about 1 lakh unemployed people in the state. In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district, about 3000 jobs will be created,” Mohsin said.
Mohsin ensured that all the grievances of the industrialists will be addressed and asked for some time to go through the documents so that proper assessment is done.
Speaking to the mediapersons, Mohsin said, “In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district, KSSIDC had submitted a proposal to the Deputy Commissioner to allot around 100 to 200 acres of government land at the outskirts of the city so that more scope for the development of small scale industries can be created. This provide employment opportunity for about 6000 unemployed people of the region.”
“KSSIDC is building 17 warehouses which will provide raw materials like MS Angle, CR & HR Sheet, Rounds, MS Plate, Wire Rods, Paraffin Wax, Coal, Bagalkot Cement to small scale industrialists from well known companies like ESSAR, SAIL, VSP and JSW,” Mohsin added.
ADC Kumar, ZP CEO Sreevidya and others were also present.