Karnataka better than Gujarat in investment: Siddaramaiah
The state received investment proposals to the tune of Rs 67,000 crore.
Kalaburagi: Karnataka has overtaken Gujarat in attracting investments in the country, according to CM Siddaramaiah. Addressing an event to mark the Hyderabad Karnataka Liberation Day here on Saturday, he said the state had become a very attractive destination for investors following the launch of a new industrial policy and other measures taken by his government.
“Karnataka is now ahead of Gujarat in attracting investments. During the January-June period this year, the state received investment proposals to the tune of Rs 67,000 crore,” he noted, promising to draw industries to backward Hyderabad Karnataka by opening an airport and taking various other steps.
Mr Siddaramaiah said an additional Rs 109 crore would be allotted to complete work on the airport and an additional Rs 3,000 crore would be pumped in every year to eradicate the regional imbalance in the state. Admitting that the funds provided for Hyderabad Karnataka Region Development Board (HKRDB), had not been utilized fully, he said of the Rs 2050 crore sanctioned so far, only Rs 1330 crore had been made use of.
“However I have instructed the authorities concerned to speed up development work and told the finance department not to delay in releasing funds for the HKRDB”, he added. Claiming that the region had benefited after it was conferred special status, he noted that over the last three years, 1871 medical and 18,783 engineering seats had gone to H-K candidates.