In the past two years, the Chhattisgarh government has inked 103 MoUs worth Rs 42,155 crores which is expected to create 62,000 jobs, a government statement said on Sunday.
The economic slowdown caused by Covid had no effect on Chhattisgarh. Across India, Chhattisgarh was the first state to start its industries from April 2000, it said.
In view of the crisis, industries in Chhattisgarh were given several relaxations. For core industries, power prices were slashed. A series of steps were undertaken to make sure the supply of raw material to the industries.
To keep the steel and cement industries up and running, road and building construction work was not stopped in the state. Power rates were not increased, and rice millers were given relaxation of 5 percent on power tariff.
According to the government, during lockdown the state produced 27 lakh tonnes of steel, which was more than any other state’s production.
“The new industrial policy of Chhattisgarh not only opens new possibilities for industries but also strengthens the agriculture sector,” the press release said.
It further said that the new industrial policy gives priority to agriculture and forest produce based industries.
Special packages have been provisioned for steel (sponge iron and steel) sector, mega and ultra-mega projects in the new industrial policy. Mega investors will get maximum investment up to Rs 500 crores from the government. This limit in Bastar region is up to Rs 1,000 crores.
The process for setting up industries has also been simplified. The land rent has been reduced by 1 percent and rules have been formed to free the land leasehold up to 10 acres in industrial region.
Under challenging circumstances, 464 start-up kicked off in Chhattisgarh, the press release said.