The BJP State unit has raised doubts on the success of investment proposals announced in the recently concluded Make in Odisha Conclave.
Considering the State Government’s track record in past 16 years, doubts are raised on successful execution of the investment proposals, said State BJP general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra.
Addressing mediapersons here, Baxipatra said, “The State Government tried to take the credits by inviting the investors from across the country as well as overseas to Bhubaneswar for the announcing their investment intent in Odisha. But, I have serious doubts on execution of the announcements,”
The investment proposals since the year 2003 till date for setting up of large scale industries, thermal power plants, hydro power plants and construction of ports are still in limbo, he said, raising doubt on the success of recent announcements for investment proposals.
Out of 92 MoUs signed by the State Government for setting up of industries on utilization of iron ore, aluminum and other heavy metals, only six have been operational and the status of 46 MoUs is still unknown. 40 MoUs are trapped in red tape, the BJP leader said.
Similarly, 28 MoUs were inked for independent power plant (IPP) projects out of which only three are operational and 25 projects are yet to take off. Out of MoUs for 18 hydro power plants, not a single project has begun, he said.
The Government has signed MoUs for construction of 13 ports in the State. Out of four MoUs signed for ports, only one project has been completed and work for three is yet to commence, Buxipatra said, adding that it is essential for taking a critical view of the past failure while forecasting success of the pledges made by corporate houses in the recent conclave.
However, the Union Government led by Narendra Modi is working towards generating income sources for 1.25 crore youths in Odisha through Central schemes, he claimed.
Buxipatra said that the commitment of BJP is not towards the Odisha Government, rather 4.50 crore people of the State. Therefore, the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) companies have come out with plans on basis of the roadmap prepared by the Centre for investments in Odisha and the projects announced by the PSUs will be definitely executed in the scheduled period of time, he said.
The investment proposals by the Indian Oil for Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs) in Paradip, Aluminum Park by Nalco in Angul, National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Jajpur, 2G Ethanol plant in Bargarh, construction of railway, road and waterways for development of infrastructure in Odisha are the solid announcements by these PSUs. Only, the Ministry of Pertoleum and Natural Gas has prepared plan for investment of `1.25 lakh crore in Odisha, he said.
Although the industrialists were keen on making investment of `72,000 crore in Mumbai conclave and `90,000 crore in Bengaluru conclave in Odisha earlier, the State Government has not prepared a roadmap for these investments. Now, the question is raised over the investment proposal of `2.6 lakh crore by the industrialists in Bhubaneswar Conclave, he maintained.
Inviting the industrialists from across the country and overseas to Bhubaneswar conclave for investment in Odisha is undoubtedly a welcome move. But there is no plan for the industrialists who are keen on making investment for setting up of the pharmaceutical industry, food processing, spinning mills, cashew processing and small and medium scale industries, he said.
It was made clear in the Make in Odisha conclave that the backward districts carry no significance for drawing attention of the investors for investments, Buxipatra said asking why the tribal districts that lag in all the sectors were not made part of the proposal of investments.
While the State Government has made a plan to set up a textile park, it is not mulling to revive the closed OTM set up by former CM Biju Patnaik, he rued.