The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has stressed the need to create a land bank of around 1,000 acres for industrial development in Dakshina Kannada and other coastal districts.

Addressing presspersons here, Sudhakar S Shetty, president of FKCCI, said the existing land parcels for industrial development have been exhausted in these districts. There is a need of minimum 1,000 acres of land for industrial development in Dakshina Kannada, he said.

Land shortage

Though Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board has enough land bank for development in other parts of the State, Dakshina Kannada lacks industrial land for development.

Around 550 acres of land near Baikampady industrial area in Mangaluru, which was supposed to be allotted to the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector, is in the court now, he said.

Stating that the government is not taking keen interest in developing industries in the districts, he said the coastal districts are a big asset to the State.

Highlighting the potential of 300 km length of the Karnataka coastline, he said the coastal areas of Goa, Gujarat and other States have been developed by the respective State governments for business and industry. But that is not done in Karnataka, he said.

Referring to various beaches across coastal Karnataka, Shetty said these places have good potential for development. The government should form an authority for developing such places, he said.

NRI conclave

The government should protect the interests of industries and traders as they are also playing a major role in nation building. The industries generate more employment boosting the GDP of the nation, he said.

FKCCI is planning to organise an NRI (non-resident Indian) conclave in Bengaluru in June this year to attract investments. The potential of the coastal Karnataka region will be highlighted there, he said.

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