The American delegation from Montgomery which is on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh visited Naya Raipur on Sunday to have a look at various projects, ongoing, and completed projects in the State’s hi-tech administrative capital.
Chief Executive Officer of Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) Amit Kataria offered detailed information about planning, development, and construction works of Naya Raipur to the delegation.
The delegation visited Naya Raipur in a special tourist bus and observed Capitol Complex, City Park, Sector 27-29 and other major places of the city. The delegation was welcomed by NRDA Vice Chairman SS Bajaj who informed the members about architecture and construction works underway in Naya Raipur.
The delegation was impressed by the architecture and appreciated the authorities for preserving the culture of the State while planning the city. The 18-member delegation led by Isiah (Ike) leggett said that the greenery, water harvesting and better infrastructure makes Naya Raipur different from new cities.
He said that the authorities have effectively preserved the culture in developing the modern city. leggett also appreciated the rural development scheme and skill development besides rehabilitation schemes.
A day earlier, the US delegation had met Chief Minister Raman Singh and held discussions about possibilities of mutual cooperation between Chhattisgarh and Montgomery in the field of health, herbal medicines, non-conventional energy, information technology, handicraft and biotechnology. leggett gave consent for cooperation in various sectors the economy and expressed interest in the field of generic medicines.
Singh informed the delegation about 14 year journey of the State and said that it has developed as ‘zero power cut’ State. In the Core sector, the State has a share of 19 percent of the total production of the country in cement, steel and aluminium. It is connected to 14 big cities through air.
He said that the number of universities in the State is 13 and the number of colleges has reached 650. The state has AIIMS, NIT, and IIIT besides law University.
Singh also explained the delegation of the development projects of Naya Raipur which is being developed as a modern city of 21st century.
Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Aman Kumar Singh, Secretary Technical Education Amit Agrawal, Secretary urban Administration Sanjay Shukla, and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Notably, on October 31, this year, the State Government had announced that Chhattisgarh has received maximum proposals in the country for setting up industrial projects says the latest Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum (IEM) list released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Government of India.
The State has received investment proposals to the tune of Rs1,61, 836 crores which is way ahead of its follower Maharashtra, officials said.
Chief Minister Raman Singh credited the achievement to the conducive industrial environment and developing people of the State and said that he anticipates that these proposals will convert into real investments.
This will take the industrial growth rate much higher than other states, he said. The officials said that according to the IEM list released in September 2014, as many as 24 big investors have filed IEMs for setting industries in Chhattisgarh with an investment proposal of Rs1,61,836 crores. For an investment of more than Rs5 crore the IEM is filed with the DIPP.
Of the total proposals filed with DIPP about 45 per cent investment proposals are for Chhattisgarh. The proposals include Salasar Steel and Power, Vaibhav Energy, GVS Industries, DB Power, Adani Mining Private limited, Real Ispat and Power limited, Hind Multiservices Private limited, Nova Iron and Steel limited, BEC Fertilisers, Vedanta Washery and logistic Solutions Private limited, Ecorex Buildtech Private limited, Adani Synergy limited, Adani Enterprises limited, Keshav Energy, BEC Foods, Ananta Power Projects Private limited, Goyal Energy and Steel Private limited, Shyam Indus Power Solutions Private limited.
The proposals are mainly for setting up iron and steel, power, solar power, mining, food products, food processing etc industries in the State.
This investment proposal proves that the environment is favourable for industrial investment in the State. In addition to this the new investment policies for agriculture, food processing policy and solar policy has been successful in attracting the investment proposals, officials said.
A Global Investors Meet is also proposed in the State to attract investments in non-core sectors and an Electronic Manufacturing Cluster is coming up in Naya Raipur and a Mega Food Park in Dhamtari district. Work is underway for Engineering Park in Bhilai for setting up engineering equipment industries, officials added.
It may be recalled that on October 14 this year, the Central government approved Chhattisgarh Government’s proposal of establishing an ‘ElectronicManufacturing Cluster’ in Naya Raipur, officials informed.
The Electronic Manufacturing Cluster will be established by Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation ltd (CSIDCl) during the next three years. The CSIDCl had sent a proposal to the Central government regarding development of ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ over 70 acres of land in Naya Raipur.
The estimated cost of the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ is Rs105 crore where the Central Government will contribute Rs50 crore for the project while remaining expenses will be borne by State government itself. Development of the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will open gates for investment of Rs500 crore in 50 industries and will create employment opportunities for about 1000 people. It is a major achievement in the direction of establishing pollution-free industries of Non-core sector in Naya Raipur, officials stated.
The Union Ministry of Communication and Information Technology provided green signal to the proposal in the meeting organized on October 13, 2014.
This ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will consist nearly 50 units manufacturing electronic items, electronic panels, medical electronic devices, electronic gadgets, Home Theatre, USB, electronic goods, commercial lights, micro transformers quill, charger, mobile phones, CCTV camera, television, computer hard drive, computer peripherals, set up box, lED light, Inverter, energy meter, automotive electronics, note books, tablets, printers etc. The project will enable investment of Rs500 crore and thus will create employment for about 1000 people.
The ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will be equipped with ultra modern amenities along with Shopping Centre, Warehouse, Hostel, Club, Training Centre, Tool Room, Solid Waste Management, Waste Management Plant, and Support Service Centre etc.