Bengaluru, June 23 (KNN) Amidst the ongoing protest in the state against the recent hike in power tariffs, the Industrial units of Karnataka neighbouring Maharashtra and Goa have been approached by the officials to invest across the border, according to a report in the ET.

On Thursday, about 10 districts in the Kittur-Karnataka and Kalyan-Karnataka regions observed a day's bandh, after chief minister Siddaramaiah ruled out any relief in power tariffs.

Belgaum Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Hemendra Porwal said officials from the neighbouring states were in touch with them and offered better subsidies than in Karnataka if they wished to invest in their state.

The recent hike in power tariffs has pinched industries so hard that they may not have no option but to explore options across the border, Porwal said.

He added that Belgavi is second to Bengaluru in terms of exports from the state. We compete with Kolhapur and Pune. Right now, those regions have the upper hand because of power subsidies.

As per the report, about 40 industry associations in the erstwhile Hyderabad-Karnataka and Mumbai-Karnataka regions shuttered their units for a day.

Karnataka industries minister MB Patil blamed the previous BJP regime for the tariff hike, while offering to discuss industry's demand with the CM.

Former CM Basavaraj Bommai has blamed the new congress regime for the ongoing protest by the industry associations.  (KNN Bureau)