K’taka govt plotting to derail HMT revival package: Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, July 6 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday accused the Karnataka government of conspiring to derail the Centre’s efforts to revive HMT, alleging that the state government was using the Forest Department to create obstacles just as a special revival package for the public sector enterprise was nearing a crucial stage.

Addressing an emergency press conference following media reports that the State Forest Department had issued a notice to HMT and set a deadline for surrendering its land, Kumaraswamy questioned the timing and legality of the action.

“The matter is pending before the court. At such a sensitive stage, the state government, through the Forest Department, has issued a notice and imposed a deadline. This amounts to interference with judicial proceedings and is contrary to law,” Kumaraswamy said.

He said Bengaluru Urban Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) N. Ravindra Kumar had ordered HMT to immediately surrender 430 acres of land to the Forest Department because it constituted forest land.

“Such an order directly interferes with ongoing judicial proceedings. Moreover, the officer has no jurisdiction to issue such a direction. HMT will challenge the order before the court,” the Minister said.

Kumaraswamy said he had been making sustained efforts to secure a special revival package for HMT, which had remained mired in losses and uncertainty for several years.

“To breathe new life into HMT, I have been making efforts to convince the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister to approve a special package. HMT comes under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, which I head. Just when the package was close to being announced, the state government, with malicious intent, got such a notice issued,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

“The officer himself has valued this land at nearly Rs 15,000 crore. That naturally raises the suspicion that someone has set their sights on this property. Many have already plundered HMT land with the blessings of this very government. I have all the documents showing when 175 acres of HMT land were sold and where the transactions were registered. I have details of those who have built houses there. Multi-storeyed buildings and massive apartment complexes now stand on land that was looted. Did the Forest Department issue notices then?” the Union Minister questioned.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the plunder of HMT land continued until he became Chief Minister in 2006.

“I stopped the sale of this land because I was determined that it should never fall into the hands of land grabbers or real estate mafia. Under the government of those who promised to turn Bengaluru into Singapore, HMT land was torn apart and devoured like vultures, without the slightest restraint,” he charged.

The Union Minister said a meeting on the proposed special package for HMT was scheduled for the following week and that a decision to revive the iconic Bengaluru-based enterprise was imminent.

“The special package was close to being announced. A decision to breathe new life into this factory, once the pride of Bengaluru, was imminent. I do not know who prompted this Forest Officer. Barely 15 days before his retirement, he has shown such recklessness as to issue such a notice. Does this officer not even possess the basic understanding that the matter is before a court? He will have to face the consequences of his actions,” Kumaraswamy warned.

“Who is this officer? What is his background? How exactly has he protected forests? Who are his godfathers? I have all the information. I will place everything in the public domain very soon,” the Minister asserted.

Kumaraswamy accused the state government of abandoning governance and indulging in what he described as a real estate racket.

“It appears the government’s evil eye has now fallen on HMT. The government itself is fencing off land wherever it sees an opportunity. Its malicious intention appears to be that no government-owned industry or factory should survive in Karnataka. NGF, Mysore Paper Mills and several other enterprises have already been swallowed up. At a time when I am making every possible effort to revive HMT, the state government has now set its sights on the factory’s land,” he alleged.

“If the state government itself creates such a hostile environment, how will industries come to Karnataka? They repeatedly complain that the Central Government has given the state nothing. But when we are ready to give, they have no willingness to accept,” Kumaraswamy said.

He assured HMT employees that they need not be anxious over the state government’s action. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will revive HMT. We will do it, and no one can stop us. By issuing an unlawful order, the Forest Department is attempting to encroach upon HMT land,” Kumaraswamy charged.

Tracing HMT’s industrial legacy, the Minister said the company, headquartered in Bengaluru, had established factories in Kalamassery, Kerala; Hyderabad, Telangana; Pinjore, Haryana; and several other parts of the country.

“Once among India’s most prestigious and profitable industrial enterprises, HMT is today facing difficult circumstances. Yet, it continues to manufacture machinery for critical sectors, including space, defence and research. Even today, there is substantial overseas demand for HMT machines. HMT watches continue to enjoy tremendous demand,” he said.

“Instead of making efforts to preserve such industries, it is deeply unfortunate that the state government appears determined to hasten their decline. I say this with immense pain,” Kumaraswamy added.

–IANS

mka/dan