Date:22/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/10/22/stories/2004102201202100.htm

Back SEZ project will continue in Mangalore: CM

Our Bureau

Mangalore , Oct. 21

THE Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr Dharam Singh, has said that the special economic zone (SEZ) project will definitely continue in Mangalore.

In an informal chat with presspersons at Mangalore helipad, he said that a memorandum of understanding has been signed in this regard.

When his attention was drawn towards the recent statement of the Union Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, where the Central Minister had faulted the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation for committing a huge amount in non-core areas and the Karnataka Government for putting all its eggs in the ONGC basket, Mr Singh said he was not there when Mr Aiyar made this statement. However, he said, "I will discuss with him and definitely the project will continue in Mangalore."

SEZ is the important project taken up by the Government in Hassan, Mangalore and Bangalore, altogether with an investment of Rs 25,000 crore, he said.

Mr Singh said that the Government had a meeting with the captains of IT industry in Bangalore on Tuesday, and it was decided to develop the Bannerghatta and other roads at a cost of Rs 34 crore. The State Government will contribute Rs 17 crore and the IT industry has to contribute the rest. Work on this will begin after November 15, he said.

To a query on the unfinished railway projects in Karnataka, Mr Singh said he would discuss the issue with the Union Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad.

The Chief Minister said each member of the Karnataka STF would get Rs 5 lakh, a house site, and an increment. He said Naxalite is a social problem and there is no move to deploy STF personnel to tackle it. Mr Singh was here to inaugurate Sri Gokarna Natha Kalyan Mantap.