Bangalore - Annual Global Investors Meet

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TNN, Apr 9, 2011, 12.12am IST

BANGALORE: A mysterious forged letter almost stalled an investor's Rs 600-crore project for construction of houses for middle and lower income groups.

The state government, during the Global Investors' Meet in July 2010, had awarded the project to investor A Alam Pasha, managing director, M/s Pash Space International Pvt Ltd. Five months later, the clearance was cancelled supposedly on his `request'. Strangely, the investor had made no such request and blamed the State High Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC) of fabricating and forging the company's letter to drop the project. The Times of India is in possession of these documents.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, V P Baligar, outgoing principal secretary (industries and commerce) who is going to take charge as CMD, Hudco, ordered an inquiry. He told TOI: "Investigations show there is truth in the complaint. A photostat copy on the company's letter head has been inserted stating it was not interested in the project. The government has restored the project to the investor and the issue will be probed further on who was responsible for it.''

M/s Pash Space International Pvt Ltd had submitted a proposal to establish "Value Homes'' for the middle and lower income group at Devanahalli Industrial Area, Bangalore rural district. The MoU was signed during GIM and the SHLCC approved the project on June 19, 2010. The government order was issued on July 15, 2010.

But, the SHLCC in its 24th meeting held on January 24, 2011, dropped the project citing a letter dated January 20, 2011 by the company officials. According to the government, the company had written a letter stating that it was `withdrawing' from the project.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...ct-value-homes

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Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries Murugesh R. Nirani promised investors that there was no dearth of land for investors in Karnataka and that they could get land within 24 hours, since 1 lakh acres of acquired land is available under the land bank scheme in the State.

Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of the Founders' Day celebrations of Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KSSIA), he said that of the Rs. 5 lakh crore total investment proposal at the Global Investors' Meet (GIM), projects worth Rs. 3 lakh crore were being implemented.

He said that a special GIM cell, a one-stop shop to help the investors, will come up in a month.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/27/stor...2766010800.htm

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Chethan Kumar, Bangalore, May 31, DHNS:

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has issued preliminary notification for acquisition of 3,382 acres in the Halligudi village of Mundargi taluk in Gadag to offer South Korean steel giant Posco for its Rs 32,366-crore steel project.

“The notification was issued on March 28 and the KIADB is now in the process of issuing notices to land owners, including farmers. Posco has already deposited Rs 60 crore for acquisition of the land required for the project,” sources in the Commerce and Industries department told Deccan Herald.

The firm, which was until recently embroiled in land acquisition problems in Orissa, where it had first proposed to set up a plant, had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Karnataka during the global investors’ meet (GIM) last year.

Although Karnataka had said it was “flexible” and would acquire land “wherever” Posco wanted it to, the latter had not zeroed in on the land until two months ago. It had identified three potential sites—Gadag, Bijapur and Bagalkot—for the project.

After the notices are served on all the land owners communicating the intent of acquiring the land, the matter would reach the KIADB Special Deputy Commissioner . “The special DC would hear all the owners and then there would be negotiations for compensation and only after all that is sorted will the final notification be served,” sources added.

Senior officials are reportedly in talks with Posco and its consultant Mecon Limited over the required infrastructure in the area.

“Among other things, feasibility studies on the source of water for the project will be discussed. The option is between the Tungabadra river and the Alamatti dam,” sources said.

While the Tungabadra is closer to the project site, Alamatti is be over 100 km, they said, pointing out that the decision will, however, depend on what will be more conducive. On whether the company’s proposal to own captive mines, which it had clearly stated was a priority, was recommended for clearance from the Centre, sources said the matter is being heard.

According to sources, the Mines and Geology Department has already completed three hearings. The recommendation to the Centre seeking permission to allot captive mining licence to Posco will be made by the department.

“The decision ultimately has to come from the Centre. We have initiated the process and are confident of having Posco in our State,” Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani said.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ied-posco.html

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Bangalore, June 6 (PTI)

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has identified an area of 1,21,304.22 acres for acquisition under the land bank scheme in the state.

Out of this, preliminary notification has been issued for 57,016.29 acres and final notification for 28,917.16 acres, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani said in a written reply in the Legislative Assembly.

He said farmers/land owners have protested against the acquisition of 722.05 acres in Belagola and other villages in Mandya district, 2,000 acres in Shekroze, Pallapura and other villages in Gulbarga district and 62 acres in Konagavalli village in Shimoga district.

The price advisory committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of the district determines the rate of compensation in respect of the lands acquired in the concerned district by consent after giving a hearing to the farmers and considering their representations, Nirani said.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...akh-acres.html

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Girish Pattanashetti and Bageshree S.

KIADB has served notices on 536 farmers

Over 50 p.c. of them have filed objections

Hubli/Bangalore: Even as the Orissa Government suspended further land acquisition for the proposed mega steel plant of Posco following protests, there are indications that acquisition of land by Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) for the Korea-based steel giant's Rs. 32,366-crore project in Gadag may not be smooth sailing.

KIADB served notices on May 28 to 536 farmers and more than 50 per cent of the farmers have filed objections so far, Special Land Acquisition Officer of KIADB, Hubli, Mahantesh Bilagi said.

“Hearing on objections filed by farmers will, in all probability, begin in the first week of July and go on for a fortnight,” Mr. Bilagi said.

The board had issued preliminary notification for acquisition of 3,382 acres of land in Halligudi village in Mundargi taluk of Gadag district.

Meanwhile, there are concerns over the proposed plant on two counts: farmers here say that the land identified for the project falls under the command area of the ongoing Singatalur Irrigation Project, which contradicts the Government's claim that it is dry land. There are also apprehensions that protection of Kappata Gudda hill range, located close by, recently declared protected zone for conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants by the State Government, may be compromised by the project.

“The farmers here harvest two crops a year,” said H.B. Vaddatti, social activist from Mundargi. Nearly 800 families will eventually lose land out of 1,200 in Halligudi, where “bili jola” (white jowar), groundnut and green gram are among the crops grown. “White jowar is crucial to the local food security in the region,” said Mr. Vaddatti. The area's proximity to the lush Kappata Gudda range is believed to be another reason for the fertility of the land here.

Annadaneshwar Swamiji of Mundargi has taken the lead in opposing land acquisition.

However, Mr. Bilagi attributes these fears singularly to the “lack of proper knowledge” on the issue.

He says that the land identified for acquisition is not covered under any irrigation project. Kappata Gudda, he added, was about 30 to 50 km ilometres from the land identified for acquisition.

Voices of dissent

K.P. Sasi, film-maker and member of the People's Solidarity Concerns, which has been part of the agitation in Orissa, said that the Orissa experience, where people's resistance has been violently crushed, should make one particularly vigilant.

“It is interesting that even as the BJP Government in Orissa is finding the going too difficult to allow POSCO to expand, the same party's government here is stepping into facilitate them,” he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/24/stor...2463180900.htm

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Special Correspondent

‘Eight lakh jobs created after 2009 investors meet'

The next meet will be held from June 4, 2012

BANGALORE: Underlining the need for farmers to sacrifice for the greater common good, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Thursday defended the Government's policy of acquiring dry-land for industrial development.

Inaugurating a state-of-the-art auditorium of the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) here, he assured them of protecting the environment and ecology. There is nothing wrong in utilising dry-land for industrial development and it is not right to oppose that, he said.

At the Global Investors Meet (GIM) of 2009, the Government succeeded in attracting investments Rs. 2.5 lakh crore investment.

Over 200 projects, of the 389 for which investors signed memorandums of understanding with the Government, “are in progress” and they had created eight lakh jobs. As many as 14 projects have been commissioned, he said. “We have appointed exclusive nodal officers to ensure speedy implementation of the projects,” he added.

Considering the success of investors meet, the Government was planning to hold the next such meet in Bangalore on June 4 and 5, 2012.

“The State has become a favourable destination for the investors across the globe, because of the investor-friendly environment. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) favoured Karnataka and Gujarat for investment,” he noted.

“We are targeting to achieve Rs. 10 lakh crore investment in the next meet and the aim is to make Karnataka a model State in the next two years,” he said.

Efforts were on to create industrial environment by building airports in district headquarters and work on the Shimoga and the Gulbarga airports was nearing completion.

It had also been decided to set up international convention centre near the international airport in Bangalore at a cost of Rs. 250-crore on a 35-acre plot to promote the city as an attractive destination to host huge conference and exhibitions, he said.

The Government is also planning to draw Rs. 50,000 crore worth of investment in the “Global Agricultural and Horticulture Investors Meet” scheduled in November and preparations are on to make that a great success, he said.

To a request from KASSIA to conduct a conference to address its problems, he responded positively and assured it of releasing Rs. 1 crore of the Rs. 2 crore earmarked for them. “I will also instruct tax authorities against harassing you,” he promised.

Minster for Industries Murugesh R. Nirani said that considering the response for the investors meet, it could be said that the State was poised for an “industrial revolution”.

Emphasising the need for holding “Kaigarika Adalat” on a regular basis, he said that most of the problems could be sorted out in the adalat.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/24/stor...2463360900.htm

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The scheme is estimated to cost Rs. 4,500 crore

Pipeline will bring natural gas from Dabhol in Maharashtra to Bangalore

There is no need to acquire land for constructing pipeline: GAIL



FOR FUTURE USE:The pipes for the project are stored at G.R. village, near Chitradurga.

Chitradurga: The Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline project undertaken by GAIL is progressing rapidly in various districts, including Chitradurga.

The project, which is estimated to cost Rs. 4,500 crore, aims at bringing 16 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMPD) of natural gas from Dabhol in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra to Bidadi in Ramanagaram district.

“The natural gas will be shipped from countries such as Oman to Dabhol and, from there, it will be transmitted to Bangalore through an underground pipeline, covering nearly 850 kilometres,” an official of GAIL said.

The pipeline will pass through the districts of Belgaum, Gadag, Hubli, Davangere, Chitradurga and Tumkur, besides Goa, and Kolhapur in Maharashtra.

Referring to the work here, he said the pipes were being brought and placed near G.R. village, about 3 km from here.

“In Chitradurga district, about 8,000 pipes will be used for covering 85 kilometres.

The pipeline will be about 5 feet under the ground and it will pass through 13 villages in Chitradurga and 22 villages in Hiriyur taluks, before heading towards Tumkur district,” he said.

No acquisition

To a question, he said there was no need to acquire any land for the pipeline since it was being constructed underground.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/26/stor...2660520300.htm

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Land for industries: Farmers, government at loggerheads
Many Singurs in offing
P M Raghunandan, Bangalore, July 3, DHNS :

Acquiring land for industries has become a major challenge for the BJP government. While it is a struggle for farmers to hold on to their land, ‘opportunists’, including Opposition parties, try to take advantage of the situation.

protest politics: JD (S) leader Deve Gowda with the farmers staging a hunger strike in Bangalore on Saturday demanding return of excess land acquired for the BMIC project. Gowda is accused of opposing land acquisition everywhere except in Hassan district. DH photoThe farmers’ agitation which began last week at Halligudi village of Gadag district was not a spontaneous one. There has been a simmering discontent among the farmers in three villages of Gadag ever since the steel plant giant Posco set its eyes on their land to set up a plant.

No doubt, industrial growth is an indicator of State’s growth. The State government believes that the Posco plant is a boon to the State as it is going to invest Rs 32,000 crore and generate thousands of jobs. But it has become a bane for some of the farmers who are opposing such acquisition.

Such agitations are not confined only to Halligudi. Farmers across the State, who have to part with their land, are waging a struggle against what they see as ‘snatching their livelihood’. The government is ‘depositing’ both government land and private land including cultivated land at the land bank for industrial use.

Officers of the KIADB say that more than farmers, it is middlemen who first create problem for land acquisition. There are instances where influential people taking general power of attorney (GPA) on behalf of farmers over land notified for acquisition by the KIADB.

As the KIADB gives compensation 25 per cent more than the guidance value fixed by the government, middlemen enter the scene and cheat farmers, sources said. The land acquisition process followed by the KIADB has become a model for many States, and farmers are getting even more than market rate for their land. Each family which sells land is also provided with a job by the industry, Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani argues.

Whatever be the argument, it has not been easy for the government to acquire land to pass on to investors. The government has identified 1.21 lakh acres, spread across 30 districts, for setting up a land bank.

Of the land, nearly 85,934 acres are privately-owned, mostly cultivable land. After rolling out a red carpet for investors at the Global Investors’ Meet (GIM) in 2010, the government is under tremendous pressure to fulfil its promise of providing land to industries.

Of the 389 projects approved, land is required for 70 projects. The KIADB has notified land for companies that have deposited a minimum of 40 per cent of the total cost of the land cost.

Over the last two years, 28,000 acres of land has been notified for industry. At the same time, farmers’ agitation has forced the government to denotify about 6,000 acres of land acquired in Davangere, Udupi and Shimoga districts during the same period.

Tension is building in Murugod of Gadag district where notices have been slapped on farmers to part with their land for the Posco plant. The government has turned jittery with media reporting the discontent among farmers. This was evident when Nirani warned JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda that he would be held directly responsible if the GIM projects fail to take off.

Loopholes

Whatever be the argument in favour of attracting big investment to the State, there are some inherent loopholes in the Land Acquisition Act. Some of the provisions under the Act were framed during the British regime. A government is empowered to acquire any immovable property anywhere, anytime in the larger interest of society.

Moreover, the acquisition process is not transparent. For instance, once the preliminary notification is issued, the owners are not entitled to use the land. There is no time limit for the government to complete the acquisition process. The final notification can be issued at its convenience.

There are instances wherein the final notifications are issued a decade after the issuing of preliminary notification. Even after a decade, the owners get the compensation fixed in the preliminary notification, officials point out.

The KIADB boasts of following an innovative consent acquisition system. But farmers’ views are not heard even at public hearings by the Price Advisory Committee (PAC) headed by deputy commissioner, it is said.

Fixing compensation, according to officials, has been the most contentious issue rather than convincing farmers to give up their land. The land rate is fixed based on the guidance value of land as worked out by the Stamps and Registration Department. The PAC can increase the compensation amount up to 25 pc more (considered as the market value).

The guidance value is only the saleable value of land. Unlike those who sell residential and commercial sites in urban areas for profit, the guidance value can’t be the true compensation to those who are traditionally dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Besides, the guidance value of land in villages is very low, official say.

No takers

That is why many farmers are against acquisition of their land. The KIADB's offer to give 9,583 sqft of developed land for every acre acquired instead of monetary compensation, has no takers.

The farmers cannot make use of the developed land, though complete rights will be given to use it for both residential and commercial purposes. Finally, they have to surrender the developed plot to the company which would have taken over the entire land, officials point out.

During the GIM, the government announced a separate land acquisition policy to bring in uniformity in awarding compensation. But so far, there is no progress in that direction.
Compensation is a contentious issue, says K Shyam Bhat, KIADB Chief Executive Officer.

“Farmers agitate when they have to part with their fertile land. They want adequate compensation, while we go by the guidance value of land. We need to look at this issue. There is also a need to fix the time limit to complete the acquisition process after issuing the preliminary notification. The government is planning to amend the Land Acquisition Act,” he says.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...rs-offing.html

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Forced To Rethink After Farmers Stiff Resistance
Bangalore: With too many problems dogging its project in Gadag,South Korean steelmaker Posco is reportedly planning to relocate its first plant in the state to either Bagalkot or Bijapur district,where it was originally planned.
If this does not work,they may shift the project somewhere outside India, a senior minister,quoting Posco officials in New Delhi,told TOI.
Posco was enthusiastic about its plant at Halligudi in Mundargi taluk of Gadag,considering the distance (70 km) from the mining district of Bellary.But things are not moving along expected lines,thanks to farmers stiff resistance to land acquisition.Posco is impatient.It may not wait too long, the minister said.
The state government,on its part,is exploring the possibility of excluding the objecting villages from the Posco project and allot adjoining land.It sounds feasible,but that may not solve the problem because the farmers protest against land acquisition is quite contagious, officials said.
Posco is worried over the delay in establishing its plants in Odisha and Karnataka.The company had plans to start the project by the end of 2012.The availability of water and mining leases have emerged as other irritants.Allotment of water to the company may also become a bone of contention as farmers are geared up to launch protests.

LAND FOR A STEEL PLANT

Posco signed a pact with Karnataka govt in June 2010 to set up a 6-million-tonne-a-year steel plant The agreement came amid Poscos struggle to acquire land in Odisha for its first plant in India It turned down the idea of setting up a plant in Bijapur or Bagalkot district and opted for Halligudi village in Gadag district A month ago,KIADB issued the preliminary notification for acquisition of 3,382 acres in Gadag Farmers are protesting against land acquisition saying at least 72% of their land is fertile and is under the command area of the ongoing Singatalur irrigation project contrary to governments claim that it is dry land

http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/...=&publabel=TOI

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While the South Korean steel giant Posco is facing hurdles in Karnataka, Lakshmi Nivas-owned ArcelorMittal is quietly making progress in the state. More than 50% of the land acquisition process has been complete.

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel producer which plans to set up a 6 million tonne per annum (MTPA) plant at Kuduthini and Haraginadoni villages in Bellary district with an estimated investment of Rs 30,000 crore, has completed acquisition of more than 2,200 acres of the required over 5,000 acres. "By God's grace, land acquisition process has been smooth and is more than 50% complete. Farmers are coming forward to accept the compensation for their land. Once we reach about 60%, the firm will get into building the layout plan,'' ArcelorMittal representative told TOI.

Initially, some farmer groups in Bellary had opposed land acquisition as they were seeking compensation higher than what was fixed by the state government. "Now, the government has fixed compensation in three slabs __ Rs 8 lakh, Rs 12 lakh and Rs 16 lakh per acre. The response from the land owners is overwhelming,'' a senior Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) official said. The steel company has deposited over Rs 267 crore with KIADB towards compensation.

When the company entered into an agreement with industries department during the Global Investors' Meet (GIM) last year, it needed 4,864 acres of land. As the firm is planning to build its own railway network to transport iron ore from the mining site to the plant, the company now has sought additional 324 acres land.

On the progress from the Union government front, ArcelorMittal has obtained terms of reference from environment and forest ministry and the firm currently has commissioned environmental impact study. "This study would take nearly a year. Later the study has to be submitted to the ministry,'' spokesperson of the company said.

ArcelorMittal has been the first to get off the block in setting up its steel plant in Karnataka. At GIM, investments proposals worth Rs 4 lakh crore was received from diverse industries and sectors. The iron & steel sector alone attracted the highest attention with investment proposals worth Rs 2 lakh crore which included companies like Posco, Bhushan Steel and Essar.

CAPTIVE MINES

While the land acquisition process has been smooth, ArcelorMittal is facing the problem of captive mines. The director of mines and geology had recommended to the Union government to grant iron ore mining lease in an area of 211 hectares in Donimalai range in Bellary district, but the company after preliminary survey found that deposits available in the range were of inferior quality. "We have sought for allotment of alternative mines in Ramadurg range. The hearing is over and the company is awaiting government's nod,'' the company spokesperson said.

JV FOR THERMAL PLANT

ArcelorMittal proposes to have joint venture with Karnataka Power Corporation (KPC) to establish 700 MW of thermal power plant in Kuduthini village. "While the company wishes to utilize 350 MW of power, the rest will be given to the corporation,'' the spokesperson said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/9214686.cms

[Cosmicbliss]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...nment-gim.html

BCIC partnering State government in GIM II

The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), on Thursday, announced that it has been chosen as the partner organisation with the State government at the second edition of the Global Investors Meet, next year.

It also said that it would be partnering the government at the agri summit to be held in November this year, wherein it has recommended the participation of Australia and the Netherlands as international partners.

Addressing reporters at an interaction, BCIC President Vinod K Nowal urged that manufacturing must be developed in the country for faster growth. “India can grow. There is ample opportunity to enable industry and manufacturing to nurture that growth. The government must make the effort and help drive forward the economy by focusing on key factors such as infrastructure and power,” he said.

The BCIC has been asking for proactive steps on part of the State government, in a bid to encourage development of those sectors which have great industry potential. Nowal opined, “Karnataka has better opportunities than most other states. There is barren land which can be used for industry, coupled with good skill potential owing to the number of engineering and technological institutes that are present here.”

He also added that since the State also contains sufficient minerals, there is immense scope for industrial growth. He also called for man power development by establishing more ITIs and institutes to increase productivity, simultaneously developing industry to apply that productivity.

Talking about steel industry, Nowal, the CEO of JSW Ltd, he pointed out that the State produces 13 million tonnes of steel annually and by 2020, the capacity is expected to grow to 20-25 million tonnes.

“About 15 per cent of the country’s steel is produced in Karnataka. Further value addition in the form of engineering industries is needed if the industry must flourish, he said.

Commenting on the present land acquisition row, he said that one must look for barren and fallow land to set up industries. He is also of the view that critics of industries should not just look at the immediate investment but the long term employment and income generation potential from a project.

[Cosmicbliss]

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news...IC/213502.html

Offer barren land for setting up industries - BCIC

Bangalore Chamber of Industries and Commerce suggest that Karnataka government should offer barren land for setting up industries.

Mr Vindo Nowal director and CEO of Jindal Steel Works in his maiden press conference as president of BCIC said that “The state government should think twice before offering land to industries and should not offer agriculture land for any purpose including setting up industries.”

He added that “To identify barren land in the districts, the government should evolve a hassle free mechanism for land acquisition. After selecting barren land for industries locating water source should not be a problem.”

Mr Nowal said that “Information technology sector has limitations and it is manufacturing which has future in the state for it ahs large availability of engineering manpower, numerous institutes to give impetus.”

BCIC is drawing up an action plan to bring manufacturing industries to Karnataka.

The chamber has been chosen as the partner organisation by the state government for its second edition of Global Investors Meet planned for 2012 to lure investors.

Mr Nowal further said that "BCIC will work with the state government in making the event successful and bring in more investors to the state.”

He added that “The chamber is will shortly initiate a dialogue with the state government on kinds of packages to be offered as incentives for investors setting up industries in the districts.”

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[avinash2060]

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[gentem]

yellow red green white means what?

[uno.piyush]

Originally Posted by avinash2060

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

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Is this as on today ?

Source ?

[avinash2060]

Originally Posted by uno.piyush

Is this as on today ?

Source ?

http://www.kumbangalore.com/

[avinash2060]

image hosted on flickr