Karnataka govt using forest dept to stall HMT revival efforts, alleges Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, Jul 6 (PTI) Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Monday slammed the Congress government in Karnataka for creating "obstacles" through forest department to derail the Centre's efforts to revive HMT. He made the remarks citing media reports that the state forest department had issued a notice to Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) and set a deadline for surrendering its land. Kumaraswamy questioned the timing and legality of the action. Speaking to reporters here, the union minister said, "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." 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 on the grounds that 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," he said. Kumaraswamy, who holds Heavy Industries and Steel portfolio, 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. "With the objective of breathing new life into HMT, I have been making efforts to convince the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the Union Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) 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," he 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," the minister alleged. He claimed that he has all the documents to show the period when the 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 asked. 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 displayed the recklessness to issue such a notice. The officer does 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. He accused the state government of abandoning governance and indulging in what he described as a real estate racket. "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 nothing to the state. But when we are ready to give, they have no willingness to accept," the minister 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 said. The minister recalled that 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. He alleged that the Congress government had begun creating obstacles from the moment he assumed charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries. "When, as Steel Minister, I began efforts to strengthen Kudremukh Iron Ore Company. This government started creating hurdles there as well. It is placing numerous obstacles in the way of mining operations. They are not even permitting mining in blocks allotted by the state government itself after collecting the required payments," he alleged. PTI AMP KH