Decisions to allot alternative land to Posco to be taken at the sector wise review meet shortly.
The Karnataka Industries Minister, Mr Murgesh R. Nirani, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the CII Southern Regional Council Meeting said “in the wake of farmers' agitation and keeping Gadag district's ecology in mind, we are proposing an alternative land to Posco.”
“A final decision on Posco's land issue and Arcelor Mittal plans in the state will be discussed with the company officials at the sector wise review meet,” he added.
The state government will shortly hold a sector wise review of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed during Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2010.
The state government's proposal to acquire 3,382 acres of land for Posco in Gadag district, to set up the steel plant, has met with stiff resistance from farmers and few religious mutts.
Mr Nirani said his department has already suggested alternative lands to the company in other neighbouring districts of Gadag.
“It is left to Posco to decide on where in state they want to set up their steel plant,” he added.
Earlier, addressing the members of the CII Southern Regional Council, Mr Nirani said the state government has taken a decision to hand over the industry licence within 24 hours of State High-Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC) clearance.
Mr Nirani said the state at GIM 2012, to be held in June, is looking for investments in healthcare, transport infrastructure, textile industry, investments in urban infrastructure such as water supply, public health, traffic and transportation, housing, poverty alleviation.
The mission of GIM 2012 is to attract Rs 6 crore investments which creates at least 10 lakh jobs and double state GDP by 2020, he added.