Rs 25 crore seed capital to be granted for Mangaluru industrial cluster: Karnataka IT Minister
Mangaluru, Dec 17: The Karnataka government will release a seed capital of Rs 25 crore for setting up an industrial cluster in the city, state Minister for IT, BT and Higher Education Ashwath Narayan said on Saturday.
The government will also establish a two-lakh square feet 'Mangaluru Innovation Hub' through Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation (KEONICS), aimed at encouraging industrial development of coastal districts, he said, addressing the Mangaluru Technovanza organised by the Mangaluru Cluster of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM).
The minister said the innovation hub will be established in cooperation with Infosys and other companies, which will cater to the industrial development of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Kodagu districts.
Narayan praised the coastal region, especially Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, for being the cradle of banking. The region has a suitable, conducive and enterprising environment and the government is keen to develop the Mangaluru region as a fintech hub, he said.
He said the government is keen on establishing at least 50 fintech companies in the Mangaluru cluster. This will give a big boost to the government's plan to achieve USD 500 billion business turnover by 2030 from these companies, Narayan said.
"Just as Bengaluru city has become famous as India's Silicon Valley due to the IT/BT companies, Mangaluru should become Silicon Beach," he said.
Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with several companies and the minister inaugurated the Mangaluru office of payment gateway firm Cashfree.
State BJP president and local MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Vedavyasa Kamath, MLC Manjunath Bhandari were among those who attended the function.
IT/BT department additional chief secretary E V Ramana Reddy, industrialist Mohandas Pai, KDEM president B V Naidu, Start-Up Vision Group chairman Prashant Prakash and IT department director Dr Shivashankar were also present.
The minister later inaugurated the Mangalore University-affiliated college at Bannadka in Moodbidri in the presence of the varsity's vice chancellor Professor Subramanya Yadapadithaya.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
