ALAMATTI: The Government will hold talks with industrialist Lakshmi Mittal towards setting up a steel plant in Bagalkot, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy was talking to presspersons during his brief halt here on Sunday on his way to Chikkamyageri village in Bagalkot district for a night's stay.

The Mittal steel company had already communicated to the Government indicating its interest in the project. Talks would be held soon to give a concrete shape to the proposal, he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the Government was planning several measures to encourage industries in Bijapur and Bagalkot districts. As a step in this direction, it had been decided to develop an airstrip at Alamatti. The region was famous for horticulture crops, and such a step measure would help boost the sector. The airstrip would be implemented through Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. he said.

The Chief Minister said that some private companies had come forward to execute the long-pending railway projects in partnership with the State Government. These included the Hubli- Ankola new line and work on doubling tracks on some important routes. To a query, he said that the Government would release Rs. 43 crore as arrears to South Western Railway soon towards sharing the cost of the Sholapur - Gadag gauge conversion project.

Referring to Home Minister M.P. Prakash's reported remarks that a final decision had not been taken on making Belgaum the State's second capital, Mr. Kumaraswamy did not give clear answer.

He said that a Vidhan Soudha building would be constructed as planned and a 15-day legislature session would be held there every year. Talks have begun with BJP to make appointments to boards and corporations, and party workers would also be given chance.

Vacant slots in the Cabinet would be filled along with that, he said. He said he would be visiting Bagalkot town on Monday. It would dispel the misconception that if a Chief Minister visited Bagalkot, he/she would lose power. The Chief Minister received petitions from villagers at Alamatti before proceeding to Chikkamyageri. Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Govind Karjol accompanied him.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail