Increased industrial development has been recorded in Chhattisgarh due to the decisions taken by the state government amid the Covid-19 crisis.
The decisions ranged from concession in electricity rates, grants-in-aid and prioritizing the products manufactured by local industries to convenient system of providing approval, which thereby acted as a 'Sanjeevni' for industries in the state.
Even amid the Covid-19 crisis spreading its wings throughout the nation, when there were complete shutdown and industrial activities were stopped, production went on in the core sector industries of the state.
By the end of April, production activities had been resumed in other industries as well.
As a result, Chhattisgarh has registered a growth of 24 percent in GST collection in September 2020, as compared to September last year. The GST collection in Chhattisgarh was Rs 1,490 crore in September 2019, which has increased to Rs 1,841 crore in September this year despite the corona crisis.
This year, from January to June, 848 industrial units employed 15,424 persons by investing capital of Rs 14,983 crores.
A special package has been announced by the state government in the Industrial Policy 2019-24 for Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes entrepreneurs and start-ups.
The eligibility for granting waives and concessions for expansion of industries was also approved in the meeting of the Council of Ministers. It has been decided to facilitate permanent capital investment grant to micro and small industries as well as medium industries.
Within the new industrial policy, a decision was taken to provide a special investment incentive package for investment in the mega, ultra-mega project of Ispat (Sponge Iron and Steel) sector.
Investment incentives up to a maximum of Rs 500 crores (up to Rs 1,000 crores for Bastar division) will be valid in the package announced for the mega investors.
Micro, small and medium industries of the state are being prioritized in government procurement. For this, the marketing portal E-Manak has been initiated by the government. GST Registration has been made mandatory for units outside the state to determine the tender rates.
Chhattisgarh has been ranked second in the field of MSME promotion and development at the national level by the Union government.