Legislators have once again taken Infosys to task over land in Dharwad district that the tech company has not “properly” used for industrial development.
Several MLAs including Chairperson of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti criticised Infosys during the ongoing budget session of the legislature in Bengaluru on Tuesday, March 4.
The Karnataka State Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) had allotted around 50 acres of land in Hubballi to Infosys in 2013 to develop an IT special economic zone (SEZ) that would create around 1,000 jobs within two years of allotment. In 2014, the company acquired 43 acres at a concessional rate of Rs 50 lakh per acre. But over the years, the company has failed to utilise the land to create jobs.
On Tuesday, the BJP’s SV Sankanur said that Infosys had not created jobs, while Pradeep Shettar accused the company of using the land to develop gardens which the employees used for walking and partying.
Chairperson Horatti himself urged the government to act, saying that the government should not go easy on them just because Infosys was an influential company. “This is a serious issue, action should be taken to withdraw the land.”
Industries Minister MB Patil said that the Infosys representatives had already met him, and that they had started work. He said that he would take up the issue with the company and meet with them again.
Last year too, the issue had been discussed in the legislature. MB Patil had told the Council in February 2024 that although the agreement stipulated that Infosys create around 1,000 jobs, the company had hired only 280 people. Although the company had acquired 43 acres, 23 acres still remained idle, Patil had said at the time.
Then too, MLC SV Sankanur of the BJP had accused Infosys of breaching contractual obligations. “It was widely believed that the arrival of Infosys in Hubballi would help in development of North Karnataka region, but the company has failed to even provide employment committed before the entry. Since the company has failed to comply with the conditions, will the government take back the land?” he had said in the Council.
The Assembly too saw heated discussion on the matter last year, with the BJP’s Arvind Bellad calling for the government to reclaim the land.