As 6 major states are alluring Kitex Garments for investment, Telangana seems to have an edge as Sabu Jacob, MD of the company and a five-member team would go to Hyderabad today by a special flight sent by the Telangana Government for discussions.
It can be mentioned here that the company has scrapped its Rs. 3,500 crore project in Kerala saying that Government officials have been harassing without any fault of the company.
Having 15,000 people on its payrolls, the company is Kerala’s largest private sector employer in the industrial sector.
“We have already had one round of discussions with Telangana Industry Minister KT Rama Rao. They have offered excellent facilities and support for the Rs 3,500-crore project, which we have abandoned in Kerala. Telangana has invited us following our announcement to cancel the apparel project in Kerala,” Sabu said.
He also reiterated that the company will not invest in Kerala.
In another development, the State Government is going to introduce a centralised system for inspections, which would do away with vested interests, if any, of officials.
P. Rajeev, Industries Minister said that he had looked into the raids on the company. He said, “No Government department has suo motu gone for inspection at the existing manufacturing units. There have been complaints, and hence various departments have inspected the units. The Kitex management could have taken up their woes with the Government. Instead, they have been criticising the Government on social media, only to tarnish it.”
