The Hindu Business Line : Kanara Chamber meet with State Planning Board today

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is likely to submit a list of suggestions for the development of coastal Karnataka during the visit of Dr A. Ravindra, Deputy Chairman of Karnataka State Planning Board, to Mangalore on December 27.

One of the important suggestions to be submitted is the effective use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) - which the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is planning to bring to Mangalore - in the Karnataka market. Sources in KCCI told Business Line that Mangalore, which is emerging as the petrochemical hub of the future, is likely to get five MTPA (million tonnes per annum) of LNG. Of this, around 2.5 MTPA will be used for various industrial purposes, including that of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL). The balance 2.5 million tonnes can be used in the Karnataka market, especially in Bangalore. If used effectively, pollution levels at Bangalore and other major cities in the State could be reduced to a major extent, they said.

Task force report

The report of the Coastal Agenda Task Force (CATF) is also likely to be figured prominently in the meeting. It may be mentioned here that the Karnataka Government, during the tenure of Mr S.M. Krishna as Chief Minister, had set up CATF on the lines of BATF (Bangalore Agenda Task Force) for the comprehensive development of coastal districts.

Headed by Mr N. Vinay Hegde, Chairman of Lamina Group of Industries and President of Nitte Education Trust, CATF came out with a number of recommendations on the coastal area development. However, subsequent governments did not show much interest in the implementation of the report. The recommendations of the report will be submitted to the State Planning Board for their effective implementation.

The meet will also focus on the development of horticulture, agriculture and fisheries sectors in coastal Karnataka. Issues related to infrastructure, and rural and urban development in coastal region will also be discussed at the meeting.

More Stories on : Economy | Industry Associations | Karnataka

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page