K'taka to make efforts to draw investments to North K'taka

Hubli, May 25 (UNI) The Karnataka Government will convene a preliminary meeting of MLAs, MPs and industrialists to chalk out strategies to attract non-resident Indians as well as big industrialists to invest in north Karnataka region, Industries Minister Katta Subramanya informed today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said it was proposed to soon hold an ''Industrial investors meet'' here on the lines of the recently held IT Investors Meet. The preliminary meeting to be convened in the first or second week of June this year would finalise the date of the meet, he added.

To a question, Mr Naidu said the government had already released Rs 90 crore towards subsidy to self finance units. It would be releasing another Rs 56 crore soon and the remaining before the next Budget.

The Minister said he had asked the officials to submit a report within a month to him on the sick industries in north Karnataka region and he would take steps to rejuvenate them after receiving the report.

He said an appointment would be sought with industralist Ratan Tata for the last week of next month to persuade him to start small cars manufacturing unit on the outskirts of Hubli-Dharwad twin city.

To another question, Mr Naidu assured that uninterrupted power supply and relief in taxes would be considered for industries in the new industrial policy.

State Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar, who was also present, said the IT investors meet had evoked a good response.

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