Bengaluru: Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil on Saturday said that power distribution companies including Bescom, Hescom, Mescom and Gescom together owe around ₹8 crore to the state-owned NGEF factory in Hubballi. He urged the corporations to clear the pending dues without delay.
He was speaking at the NGEF Board meeting held at Khanija Bhavan which was virtually attended by the Managing Directors of ESCOMS.
The companies had procured transformers from NGEF, and each of them owe about ₹2 crore. While the government has already decided to revive the Hubballi unit, recovery of the dues has turned into a major challenge, Patil explained.
Highlighting NGEF’s credibility, the minister noted that its transformers have been installed in the New Parliament Building and are also supplied to the Railways. In addition, the unit has been exporting transformers to several African countries, including Uganda.
18 months deadline
Patil stressed that the proposed river-sourced water supply project for the Bengaluru industrial area must be completed within 18 months, instead of being stretched over four or five years. He said that similar projects in other regions are progressing well, with 95% of the Vijayapura project and 80% of the Dharwad project already completed.
Policy Review on Land Use
Patil further revealed that the government is considering relaxing the regulation that requires industries to leave 6–7 metres of open space around their buildings. Since this reduces usable land, the state will study policies in other states and countries before taking a final call.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of industrial projects in Vijayapura district and the “KWIN City” project. Principal Secretary S. Selvakumar, Industries Commissioner Gunjan Krishna, Dr.Mahesha, CEO, KIADB, Aravinda Galagali, Technical Advisor to Minister and other officials were present.
