MANDYA: Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has stoked hopes of reviving the iconic Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) factory, which shut shop in 2016.
The minister has proposed forming a high-level technical committee to draft a revival roadmap, aiming to re-establish HMT as a key contributor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.
On Thursday, the minister said a technical delegation will be sent to Japan to study advanced manufacturing methods to support the company’s revival.
“In the past, major industrial institutions played a role in boosting economic conditions of people. Today, under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, there are around 47 large industries, but only Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is running profitably. Plans are now underway to restart HMT,” he said.
Kumaraswamy also highlighted the issue of local unemployment and the need for balanced industrial growth.
“Cities like Pune and Mumbai have seen rapid industrial expansion. While we can provide jobs there, the youth in our districts want opportunities closer to home, and that’s understandable. This is one reason unemployment is rising locally,” he said.
Kumaraswamy said the government is also working on reviving the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Ltd. factory in Bhadravati, originally established during the Mysore kings’ reign under Sir M Visvesvaraya’s guidance.
“The Bhadravati steel plant will resume operations in the next three to four months, creating between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs,” the Union Minister announced.