Nellore: State government to take back unused lands

NELLORE: Industries minister Mekapati Gautham Reddy has made it clear that the government would take back the lands given for industrial units if they are left unused without any genuine reason. He said that they will not interfere with the lands given if an industry is not set up due to lack of infrastructure or the proposed sector is in doldrums or any shortcomings occur from the government’s side. However, the government will not hesitate to recover the land if it is used for real estate activities.

Reacting to a question, during a Press Conference held at his residence here on Saturday, the minister said that they will provide infrastructure and ensure the utility of allotted land and also initiate similar steps in the industrial parks that are in limbo.

He observed that sops being given to some companies to set up their units in Andhra Pradesh are becoming a major burden to the government.

Indirectly pointing to Kia Motors in Anantapur, he said that the benefits given to them ran in to Rs 20,000 crore in two decades and it can be compensated only if more such industries prefer to set up their units in that region.

He was all praise for Sri City for effective utility of land given to them and assured further encouragement to the organisation.

He clarified that they are yet to make conditions for their policy of 75 per cent of jobs to local people and they will take the opinions of industrialists while framing the rules.

The minister said that most of the companies have already crossed the 75 per cent mark but most of such jobs are in Class IV category and their intention is to train such workforce in association with the company to make them eligible for high payment jobs.

As part of the plan, Skill Development Centres will be established in all 25 Parliament segments in the state.

He said availability of skilled manpower is the reason for Ford and Hyundai to prefer Chennai to set up their units and they intend to develop AP on the same lines.

Lamenting over biggest investment opportunities lost by the state during the last 10 years, due to lack of a standard industrial policy, Mr Gautham said that ‘Comprehensive Industrial and IT Policy’ is being readied under the supervision of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

“We are working on making Visakapatnam as the destination for IT companies under Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor to compete with Hyderabad and Bangalore,” Mr Gautham Reddy said. He also hinted that they would set up a Data Centre or IT Park in Nellore also in view of its proximity to Chennai.

Fake Reliance firm sought land: Mekapati Gautham Reddy

AP industries minister Mekapati Gautham Reddy said that they were taken aback when they realised that land sought by a firm named as ‘Reliance’,  near Tirupati, during the previous government got nothing to do with Reliance Industries run by either Mukesh Ambani or Anil Ambani.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, the minister said that the Delhi based firm sought 1,000 acres in the Electronic Park, near Tirupati, and the proposal came for Cabinet approval during the previous government’s tenure. However, the land was not allotted then and MoU was also not signed, Mr Gautham Reddy said.