Mysuru: Minister for Public Works H C Mahadevappa on Monday urged JK Group to set up their plants in the district as the region has a good climate, skilled manpower in abundance and quality infrastructure.

Addressing the gathering as an event to mark unveiling of 10 millionth truck radial tyre from the company’s Vikrant plant at Mysuru, Mahadevappa, who is also the district in-charge minister, said, “JK Group is a major player in industrial rubber products, cement, paper, agri seeds, defence, clinical research and other areas. I urge the company to set up their plants in future in Mysuru.”

Vikrant Tyres, set up as a government enterprise in 1979, was the brainchild of former chief minister D Devaraj Urs.

Mahadevappa recalled, “Vikrant Tyres was on the verge of becoming a sick company in 1996 and the future of over 2,000 employees was in limbo. However, the government of Karnataka took the initiative of calling global tender and inducted JK Tyre and Industries as the strategic alliance partner, and handed over the management to the company in May 1997. The company wiped off the accumulated losses in the first year and scripted a turnaround.