State to impress on SemIndia to reconsider decision

State to impress on SemIndia to reconsider decision
Deccan Herald

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said the State will make all efforts to impress upon SemIndia to reconsider its decision and set up the $3 billion Fab City in Karnataka instead of Andhra Pradesh.

Stating that there was no laxity on the part of the State to woo the semiconductor complex that would trigger employment generation, he told newspersons here that he would meet officials of the company and the Union Government on making Karnataka the Fab City's destination.

''Karnataka will move a step forward and provide more facilities than those offered by Andhra Pradesh,'' the Chief Minister said, adding that the main advantage of the State was its security as the city was peaceful compared to the naxal-infested Andhra Pradesh and LTTE-dominated Tamil Nadu. Besides, the State was also not prone to natural calamities such as earthquake and tsunami.

If necessary, the State would also provide power at subsidised rates as had been promised by Andhra Pradesh, he added.

Mr Kumaraswamy said that in December, the State had written to SemIndia, offering all necessary concessions and infrastrucure facilities near Nanjangud in Mysore to set up the Fab City. Infact, the company had okayed the location, he added.

Union Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran had announced yesterday that Andhra Pradesh had been preferred by SemIndia for locating the Fab City, compared to Karnataka in providing subsidies, facilities like land, water, electricity and other infrastructure facilities. Tamil Nadu had lost the race because of its lukewarm response, he added.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the State might have lost the investment opportunity due to stiff competition among States to attract investment. However, no efforts would be spared to ensure that the Fab City was located in Karnataka, he added.

Echoing the sentiments of Mr Kumaraswamy at a separate press meet here, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa assured that during his visit to Delhi on February 13 and 14, he would hold discussions with the company's top brass along with the Chief Minister.