Siddaramaiah has made it clear that he will not
entertain companies just because they claim they will bring in crores of
investment at the cost of farmers
They came, they saw, they returned empty-handed. This could sum up
chief minister Siddaramaiah’s meeting with industry captains on Monday.
Not only did the CM leave them high and dry, but he also left several
babus red-faced with his unequivocal declaration on Monday that farmers,
not industry, were his priority. The CM’s unexpected stance came at a
high-level committee meeting meant to clear big-ticket industrial
projects.
At the end of an over hour-long meeting with the top brass of the Commerce and Industry department, Siddaramaiah refused to clear even a single project, saying he was not in favour of sacrificing fertile land at the altar of industry. With Lok Sabha elections slated for sometime next year, the news could bring cheer to the rural vote bank, but it has punctured the hopes of industry leaders.
At the meeting, he even slammed the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, calling it a real estate agency meant to benefit industrialists.
He told officials of the industries ministry that he would not allow fresh acquisition of land from farmers, especially fertile land --a demand made by some companies to expand their base in various parts of the state.
‘‘We cannot afford to give farmers' land to unregistered and bogus companies which signed MoUs in the last Global Investors Meet," Siddaramaiah told the meeting. He continued, ‘‘Fertile land, farmers' land is very precious. Before giving it to companies we need to have our calculations right, go and approach Land Audit Committee, find out if land is available or not, and then proceed further. If land is available, see how much employment that company is going to generate; if it is not proportionate to losing this land do not entertain these companies. In the name of industrial development, there is no urgency in snatching farmers' land. Do not go by the crores that they show.‘‘
On seeing the mood of the new CM, industry department officials decided it would be wise not to call any industry representative inside. All of them were, instead, told the meeting had been deferred.
A brave babu tried reasoning with the CM. “Industry representatives have been eagerly awaiting this meeting which is being held after a long gap. Firms like Tech-Mahindra and Cognizant Technology & Solutions are waiting outside. The new government can use this as an opportunity to placate industry,” he said. The CM, however, cut him to size, ruling out any takeover of farmers’ land.
Describing the atmosphere at the event, a senior IAS officer, on condition of anonymity, said, “It was embarrassing for all of us as we had invited several representatives from the industrial sector. Some power companies had come to set up shop in various parts of the state. They were all made to wait outside for their turn to make a presentation. Had we known the CM would take such a stand, we would not have invited them at all.”
The only silver lining, if any, was that Siddaramaiah directed industrial houses to inquire if any land was available for allotment with the Land Audit Committee which functions under the Commerce & Industry department. “If it is available, prepare a proposal and bring it for clearance. Otherwise, I will not allow buying of fertile and fresh land from farmers,’’ he stated.
Reiterating his pro-farmer line, Siddaramaiah, after his breakfast meeting with editors, at his residence on Tuesday said, “My priorities are irrigation, agriculture, education and health. I do not believe in misguiding farmers by presenting a separate budget for agriculture. What they need is quality fertilizers, seeds and timely loans.” He emphasised the need to spruce up the marketing system and ensure round-the-year price stability for farm produce. “All this will be included in the budget which will be presented on July 12,” the CM said.
Contrary to Siddaramaiah’s approach, former CM S M Krishna had adopted a Robin Hood policy of taking from the rich and channelising these resources to help poor farmers.
Source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=2013061920130619073528106cba06248
At the end of an over hour-long meeting with the top brass of the Commerce and Industry department, Siddaramaiah refused to clear even a single project, saying he was not in favour of sacrificing fertile land at the altar of industry. With Lok Sabha elections slated for sometime next year, the news could bring cheer to the rural vote bank, but it has punctured the hopes of industry leaders.
At the meeting, he even slammed the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, calling it a real estate agency meant to benefit industrialists.
The meeting was being held after a gap of six months as assembly
elections had stalled clearance of industrial projects. It was also
Siddaramaiah’s maiden meeting as CM with industry representatives. More
than 30 premium projects from tech firms, power companies, manufacturing
companies and other sectors were placed before the CM for in-principle
approval. Officials from the Commerce and Industry department had even
invited industry representatives for the meeting. Siddaramaiah could
have used this meeting to send a message to industry that Karnataka and
Bangalore were sought-after destinations in the country. But
Siddaramaiah chose to play a different card.
He told officials of the industries ministry that he would not allow fresh acquisition of land from farmers, especially fertile land --a demand made by some companies to expand their base in various parts of the state.
‘‘We cannot afford to give farmers' land to unregistered and bogus companies which signed MoUs in the last Global Investors Meet," Siddaramaiah told the meeting. He continued, ‘‘Fertile land, farmers' land is very precious. Before giving it to companies we need to have our calculations right, go and approach Land Audit Committee, find out if land is available or not, and then proceed further. If land is available, see how much employment that company is going to generate; if it is not proportionate to losing this land do not entertain these companies. In the name of industrial development, there is no urgency in snatching farmers' land. Do not go by the crores that they show.‘‘
On seeing the mood of the new CM, industry department officials decided it would be wise not to call any industry representative inside. All of them were, instead, told the meeting had been deferred.
A brave babu tried reasoning with the CM. “Industry representatives have been eagerly awaiting this meeting which is being held after a long gap. Firms like Tech-Mahindra and Cognizant Technology & Solutions are waiting outside. The new government can use this as an opportunity to placate industry,” he said. The CM, however, cut him to size, ruling out any takeover of farmers’ land.
Describing the atmosphere at the event, a senior IAS officer, on condition of anonymity, said, “It was embarrassing for all of us as we had invited several representatives from the industrial sector. Some power companies had come to set up shop in various parts of the state. They were all made to wait outside for their turn to make a presentation. Had we known the CM would take such a stand, we would not have invited them at all.”
The only silver lining, if any, was that Siddaramaiah directed industrial houses to inquire if any land was available for allotment with the Land Audit Committee which functions under the Commerce & Industry department. “If it is available, prepare a proposal and bring it for clearance. Otherwise, I will not allow buying of fertile and fresh land from farmers,’’ he stated.
Reiterating his pro-farmer line, Siddaramaiah, after his breakfast meeting with editors, at his residence on Tuesday said, “My priorities are irrigation, agriculture, education and health. I do not believe in misguiding farmers by presenting a separate budget for agriculture. What they need is quality fertilizers, seeds and timely loans.” He emphasised the need to spruce up the marketing system and ensure round-the-year price stability for farm produce. “All this will be included in the budget which will be presented on July 12,” the CM said.
Contrary to Siddaramaiah’s approach, former CM S M Krishna had adopted a Robin Hood policy of taking from the rich and channelising these resources to help poor farmers.
“While paving the way for industries, especially IT czars, Krishna
mobilised enough resources and ensured hefty returns to the exchequer.
He used this for several populist programmes in rural Karnataka like
computerisation of land records, Akshara Dasoha (mid-day meals) scheme
and Arogya Shree schemes for the rural poor. I am sure Siddaramaiah, who
represents the same party, is convinced of these methods to improve the
state,” a senior Congress leader said.
Source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=1&contentid=2013061920130619073528106cba06248
