Allocating land to factories and industries can be beneficial, but there needs to be a logical basis for granting large tracts of land at no cost. The scale of investment should reasonably correlate with the size of the land allocation.
Today, Telangana’s Minister for IT, Electronics, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs, Sridhar Babu Duddilla, was seen holding a shoe and posing with South Korean industrialists. The event was related to Shoealls, a Korean company focused on footwear.
Sridhar Babu Duddilla tweeted, "Shoealls, a Korean company specializing in smart shoes, is eager to invest in setting up a state-of-the-art production center in Telangana at a cost of Rs 300 crore, which could generate employment for around 87,000 people. Today, I met with their team, led by Chairman Mr. Cheewing Lee."
Shoealls has requested 750 acres of land to manufacture a range of products aimed at providing relief for diabetes and arthritis patients, including shoes embedded with medical chips and shoes capable of generating 25 watts of power after 10,000 steps.
Minister Duddilla added, “We will prioritize Shoealls' request, and a decision will be made soon. A major factory will be established here, which will serve both global and U.S. markets. Due to the use of animal skins in shoe manufacturing, supporting tanneries will also be required, which will further boost local employment through ancillary units.”
Additionally, the company has proposed establishing a smart city on 5,000 acres, including collaborations with renowned hospitals like Johns Hopkins. “I assured the team we would consider their proposal favorably, with plans for Tier II and Tier III cities in Telangana,” the minister added.
The public, however, finds the notion of granting 750 acres for a relatively modest Rs 300 crore investment rather questionable. Observers from Hyderabad's real estate and infrastructure sector point out that the employment figures appear exaggerated.
In December of last year, representatives from Taiwan-based manufacturer Foxconn met with CM Revanth to explore an investment of $550 million (roughly Rs 4,600 crore) in Telangana. By March 2023, Foxconn had secured 2,000 acres to develop ‘Foxconn City,’ with a commitment to generate 100,000 jobs.
This raises the question- if 2,000 acres were offered for a Rs 4,600 crore investment, why is 750 acres being considered for a Rs 300 crore investment by a shoe company?
Social media is buzzing with memes and questions, as people demand clarity on the rationale behind these land allocations and whether they are justified.