Budget: Expectations in North Karnataka soar

Dharwad: People in North Karnataka are expecting Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman who is elected from Karnataka to the Rajya Sabha to be considerate about the demands of the region while presenting the Union budget on February 1.
This will also be a full budget by this dispensation before the country goes for general elections in 2024 and hence expectations are that the FM will keep the elections to both the state and Centre in mind and offer sops to the region.
Though the Centre has been generous in fulfilling most of the demands of the region, some important demands are yet to be fulfilled in view of the overall development of the region.
Upgradation of Karwar sea port is one of the major demands as it would help industries in North Karnataka districts to export their products. According necessary clearance to the Hubballi-Ankola railway line and releasing funds for it is another major demand. This would help producers reach the port faster and at a lesser cost.
Lots of food processing units are coming up in North Karnataka and the rail connection to Karwar and upgrading the sea port there will benefit entrepreneurs to a great extent, said Vinay Jawali, president of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hubballi.
Setting up an internal container depot in Hubballi-Dharwad will help transportation of industrial products from the region to ports, he added.
He said Dharwad-Hubballi, Belagavi and other districts have been declared a Special Investment Region (SIR) and funds need to be allocated to develop the necessary infrastructure to facilitate investors.
KCCI has also sought relaxation in GST norms and income and corporate taxes. It has submitted a detailed charter of demands to the Union finance minister.
‘Need more representation for women in board’
Priya Puranik, industrialist and State secretary, Laghu Udyog Bharati, Karnataka, wants the Union government to ensure that every tier-2 city in the country has ‘Women Entrepreneurs Park’ and reservation for women from rural districts in National MSME Board. Only those from Metro cities are getting representation in MSME Board and entrepreneurs from districts are ignored, she rued.
Though the Mudra scheme envisages sanction of loans without any collateral security, no banker is ready to give the loan without security and the problem should be looked into by the authorities concerned, she added.