ABB Chief calls for PPP to improve infrastructure

Bangalore, Mar 9 (UNI) ABB Vice Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Uppal today called for more public-private participation to improve infrastructural facilities, especially in rural areas.

Delivering the key note address at the CII Karnataka Annual Members Day here, he regretted that despite the economy making big strides and governments initiating steps to improve infrastructure, the progress had been rather slow.

"Though many entrepreneurs want to establish their industry in rural areas, they step back due to lack of proper connectivity in the rural areas. Absence of proper infrastructure has become a handicap for the development of rural areas," he said.

Mr Uppal said that more concentration on Urban areas may lead to a disaster as it worsens situation arising out of the migration of rural people to urban areas and the cities were already overcrowded.

He said that major problem faced in rural areas were with small land holders as they cannot afford to take loan and their holdings are small as well as barren. "We need to generate employment opportunity to these section of the rural people. We can impart training to make them skilled who can be absorbed by the industry", he added.

Cooperative farming would be the right step in not only increasing the productivity but also utilising to full extent the land available, he said.

Mr Uppal called for proper implementation of schemes in rural areas. "Just financial support in Budget cannot help. Physical activity to implement various welfare schemes and infrastructure projects need to be implemented at a steady speed", he added.

Referring to the city of Bangalore, which had attracted world attention through IT, he said that it (Bangalore) had potential to grow further and it can continue to be an incubator for investors.

Karnataka State Planning board Deputy Chairman A Ravindra, said providing job for non-farm labours had become a big problem.

Training and micro finance should be promoted, he said.

Mr Ravindra sought the industries to move to two and three tier cities in Karnataka. "This will help overall development of the State," he added.

UNI