Kumaraswamy wants investments in Karnataka's tier-2 cities
Bengaluru, Aug 3: To provide relief to a choked Bengaluru busting at seams, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday told investors to set up their manufacturing units or services centres in tier-2 cities across the southern state.
"I appeal to investors to locate their industries or services centres beyond Bengaluru in tier-2 cities like Mysuru, Hassan, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi and Kalaburagi for uniform development and job creation," Kumaraswamy told about 100 chief executives of the IT and biotech industry here.
Interacting with the heads of IT and BT sectors at a meeting on the 21st Bengaluru Tech Summit (November 29-December 1), the Chief Minister said his government was committed to encourage investments and job creation in tier-2 cities and towns for all-round growth of the state.
"I have committed to invest Rs 500 crore in the state budget for fiscal 2018-19 to set up skill development centres in tier-2 and tier-3 cities across the state for training our youth, graduating from higher secondary schools and colleges," he asserted.
Assuring the state government's support to the captains of the industry, Kumaraswamy said he would set up a special cell in his office for speedy approvals and enhance the ease of doing business in the state.
"As announced in the state budget on July 5, industrial clusters will be set up in some districts under the 'Compete with China' programme to make farm machinery at Bidar, solar equipment at Kalaburagi, electronic toys at Koppal, garments at Ballari and ALED bulbs unit at Chitradurga," said Kumaraswamy.
As the state is well known for innovation hub, the state government will set up a Karnataka Innovation Authority through a legislation in the next assembly session to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, including floating start-ups.
State Major Industries, IT, BT, Science & Technology Minister K.J. George said on the occasion that the JD(S)-Congress coalition government would support the growth of IT and BT sectors in the state.
State Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge said the state government would soon initiate a programme on rural entrepreneurship for uniform growth in the state.
Karnataka IT vision chairman and Infosys co-founder S. Gopalakrishna, Additional Chief Secretary E.V. Ramana Reddy and IT & BT Principal Secretary Gaurav Gupta participated in the meeting.
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One dead in landslide, 235 rescued amid heavy snowfall in J-K’s Kishtwar
Jammu (PTI): One person was killed and another injured in a landslide near a hydro-power project, while over 230 people, including women and children, were evacuated after they were caught in heavy snowfall at the high-altitude Sinthan top in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said on Monday.
In view of the inclement weather, the authorities have ordered the closure of all educational institutions outside the municipal limits in Kishtwar and adjoining Doda district for Monday as a precautionary measure, the officials said.
A landslide, triggered by rain, struck a hydro-power project site near Dangduru in Kishtwar district on the intervening night of Sunday-Monday, trapping two workers, the officials said.
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While one worker was later found dead, the other was rescued in an injured condition and shifted to a hospital, they said.
In another incident, the officials said, a joint rescue operation by the police, Army and the civil administration successfully evacuated 38 vehicles carrying 235 passengers to safety amid heavy snowfall at the Sinthan Top connecting Kishtwar in Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
“On March 15, information was received that 235 civilians were stranded at Sinthan top due to heavy snowfall and severe weather conditions. Troops of the White Knight Corps were immediately mobilised to launch a swift rescue operation despite the treacherous terrain and relentless snowfall.
“Braving extreme weather and snow-blocked roads, the rescue teams reached Sinthan top and provided the stranded civilians with hot meals, drinking water and shelter. Repair and recovery teams restored the mobility of the stranded vehicles, while passengers from the unrecoverable vehicles were safely evacuated.
“Medical teams rendered assistance and essential medicines to those in need,” the White Knight Corps said in a post on X.
“The mission witnessed seamless coordination between the Army, J-K Police and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, reaffirming the Army’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives in the harshest conditions,” the post added.
Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with SSP Naresh Singh and the commanding officer of the 11 Rashtriya Rifles, supervised the rescue operation, which continued for several hours, the officials said.
