The State government has officially notified Mysuru-Thandya and Mysuru-Hebbal as a Special Investment Region (SIR), in a move that is expected to give a thrust to industrialisation and economic growth.
The official notification was issued on February 10 by the Department of Industries, and the decision is a fallout of years of lobbying and persuasion.
The Mysuru-Thandya SIR will comprise Adakanahalli, Kochanahalli, Kadakola, Immavu, Thandya 2nd phase 1st stage, Thandya 2nd phase, Women’s Entrepreneur’s Park Phase 1, Phase 2, Single Unit Complex, and the Film City in Nanjangud industrial area.
The Mysuru-Hebbal SIR will comprise Hebbal, Hootagalli, Belavadi, Belagola, Koorgalli, Hebbal 2nd phase, Single Unit Complex Areas in Mysuru and Srirangapatna taluks, spread over 3,799.19 acres.
Though the notification of SIRs has been welcomed by stakeholders, it was pointed out that the existing industrial layouts in Mysuru and Nanjangud had been re-branded as SIRs with no specific or special benefits like in special economic zones.
What is more, there is hardly any land available for allotment to potential investors, according to Suresh Kumar Jain, general secretary, Mysuru Industries Association.
“If the notification of an SIR creates an impression that it will drastically change the industrial landscape of the region, then it is not true,” he added.
But stakeholders pointed out that one of their long pending demands — for notification of Industrial Township Authority — has come true. For, the official notification stated that under the Karnataka Special Investment Region Act, the two SIRs would be deemed to be industrial townships and the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) had been declared as Industrial Township Authority.
With this notification, the industries in Mysuru, can expect a relief from multiplicity of taxation to different local bodies. While Mysuru City Corporation would insist on trade licence, the local panchayats would levy property tax while NoC had to be obtained from the pollution control board.
To start an industry, an entrepreneur had to obtain over 30 permits, all of which was not only time consuming but was perceived to be “industry-unfriendly”.
With the notification of KIADB as the Industrial Township Authority, the stakeholders expect it to act as a single window agency which will issue the necessary clearances with proportionate level of services like civic amenities, roads, water, street lights etc.
However, the stakeholders want the Industrial Township Authority board members to be drawn from local industries and entrepreneurs who are well aware of the requirements and the problems impeding accelerated industrial growth. But the government notification on SIR includes only two representatives from Industries whereas the rest will be from the government.
Though Mysuru has for long been branded as the ‘’next best investment destination after Bengaluru, there has been little action on the ground and the city’s main economic driver remained tourism. But despite the absence of SIRs, the city managed to carve a niche for itself as a major centre for automobile ancillary units and electronics.
Stakeholders aver if the investment is to gain traction in Mysuru to change the industrial landscape of the region, the authorities have to identify land in the absence of which no entrepreneur or industrialist, will evince interest.
