Hubballi-Dharwad is possibly north Karnataka’s largest industrial hub, but its industrial estates are suffering from a lack of and a reduction in productivity.
Dharwad is geographically located in the centre of north Karnataka and has good connectivity. However, the industrial estates situated in Belur, Tarihal, Mummigatti, Kotur and Lakamanahalli are lacking basic infrastructure as a result of which the industries are unable to utilize their full capacity. The failure of the KIADB in handing over these estates to the local bodies since last two decades has added to the woes of the entrepreneurs.
The outbreak of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown have rubbed salt in the entrepreneurs wounds. The majority of industrial units in industrial estates are small-scale, auxiliary industries that supply accessories to big and medium-sized enterprises. Due to the fact that the large and medium enterprises that purchased the products of small units cut their production, the demand for auxiliary products decreased as well, according to an industrialist.