BENGALURU: Members of legislative Councils have raised concerns over Infosys’ failure to create job opportunities for locals. Also, the members raised questions that the IT giant is misusing the land allotted.
“If Infosys does not want to use the land for the intended purpose, then it will be withdrawn as per norms,” Industries Minister M B Patil said.
The minister said this while replying to a question by BJP MLC S V Sankanur in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.
MLC Sankanur alleged that Infosys is doing horticulture activities on the land provided. The MLCs raised concerns over Infosys’ failure to meet job creation targets and effective utilization of the allocated land.
Minister Patil said he would visit the location and carry out an inspection. Also, I will convene a meeting with Infosys, Mr. Patil promised.
“Infosys is capable of developing the land provided for the said purpose and creating employment for engineering graduates from North Karnataka region. I will convene a meeting with them and discuss,” Patil said.
However, Sankanur said that Infosys was supposed to complete the project within two years of land allocation. “But it’s been 10 years,” he said.
It can be recalled here that Infosys was allotted 50 acre of land on Gokul Road near Hubballi Airport on a lease-cum-ale basis in 2013. The agreement stipulated the establishment of an IT SEZ project and the creation of 1,000 job opportunities for locals.
According to Mr. Patil, Infosys has only hired 280 employees so far.
