Karnataka’s Minister for Sugar, Textiles, and Agricultural Marketing, Shivananada Patil, chaired a high-level meeting with department officials at Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru to discuss the establishment of a textile park in Hosadurga. During the meeting, the minister emphasized that instead of favoring companies with the sole intention of availing government subsidies, the opportunity must be given to genuinely interested industrialists committed to setting up and operating textile units.
Hosadurga MLA Goolappa Gowdappa Govindappa, who also attended the meeting, clarified that he had no preference for any particular company. “Our only concern is to ensure that a textile park is established in the constituency, regardless of which company undertakes the project,” he said. The minister supported this view and reiterated that companies merely aiming to grab subsidies and showing no intent for real development should be side-lined. He directed the department to identify and encourage serious players in the textile sector.
Minister Patil also reviewed the progress of the proposed textile park and asked officials to stay in constant touch with the local MLA to speed up the implementation. Expressing dissatisfaction with a previously proposed company, the minister suggested considering other options and ensuring that interested investors are not kept waiting unnecessarily.
The district administration has already converted 30 acres of land at Aralihalli village in Hosadurga taluk for industrial use. Karnataka State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSTIDC) has paid ₹23.30 lakh to acquire this land, as shared by KSTIDC Managing Director Prakash during the meeting. Highlighting the socio-economic context, officials noted that Hosadurga taluk is listed as one of the most backward areas in Karnataka according to the Dr. D.M. Nanjundappa Committee Report. The 2011 Census shows that there are around 30,000 youth in the region, of which nearly 11,000 are unemployed.
The setting up of the textile park is expected to significantly boost employment prospects in the area.
