Karnataka beckons investors

Karnataka beckons investors

New Delhi, Jan 29,DHNS:

Five major industrial houses, including Hero Honda, evinced their interests in investing in Karnataka when the state government kick-started its investment road show on Friday.

Karnataka Industry Minister Murugesh Nirani told newsmen that these five companies had, during his interaction with them, promised to invest Rs 4,645 crore in the state.The projects can generate around 8,000 jobs, he said.

Nirani held a series of meetings with industrialists here as part of the road show ahead of the global investors’ meet in Bangalore in June.

Confident minister

The minister is confident of clinching a deal with Hero Honda soon. The two-wheeler major, which is looking for setting up its fourth plant in the country, is interested in setting up a plant at Dharwad or Hubli with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore.

Nirani said the company has said it will send its technical team for evaluating the project next month. The company has sought 50 to 100 acres. It has promised jobs to 800 people directly. And 5,000 people may get jobs indirectly. A number of auxiliary units can also come up if the project is set up.

Nectar Lifesciences is also keen on setting up a plant for manufacturing life-saving drugs with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore. The proposed plant has the potential to generate 800 jobs. The State government has asked the company to submit a project report.

Mosarbaer has come forward for setting up a 50 MW grid-connected solar photo voltaic project with an investment of Rs 850 crore in Chickaballapur district. Kajaria Ceramics plans to set up a unit for manufacturing ceramic tiles with an investment of Rs 150 crore in Belgaum. It has the potential to provide direct employment to 200 people.

The government has already conducted road shows in many countries. The Delhi programme is its first in India. Similar shows will be held in Mumbai and Chennai.

Walls of twin cities will turn aesthetic

Walls of twin cities will turn aesthetic

TNN, 29 January 2010, 09:03pm IST

HUBLI: The residents of Hubli-Dharwad will get to see tourist places of Karnataka, its rich temple architecture, cultural heritage and traditions on the walls of the cities.

Taking a cue from the Bruhat Bangalore Municipal Corporation, the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has decided to smarten up the cities by painting its walls. The intention is to curb defacement, promote state's tourist destinations and highlight its rich and vibrant culture, according to civic officials.

However, the beautification project will not cost too much for the HDMC. It will sell the space for advertisers who will get about 80% of the upper portion of the wall painted free of cost. In turn, they will get the remaining space for advertising their products. The advertisers themselves will see that no posters/ bills will be glued on the paintings.

HDMC special officer N H Naregal said the beautification project has already started in Hubli and Dharwad. "We have begun by painting the walls of HDMC-owned Lamington School in Hubli and Azad Park in Dharwad. Tenders will be invited in a few days to reflect the same elsewhere," he added.