It seems the Government of Odisha has excelled in the art of selective choice of feats to cover up glaring gaps in the industrial scenario of Odisha as a preferred destination for business.
Under scathing attack from Opposition on core issues of development, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik came to rescue of his Government by stating that all is well in State, particularly in the industrial front. He cited the commissioning of the Tata Steel’s greenfield steel plant at Kalinganagar and the IndianOil’s oil refinery at Paradip as landmarks in the State’s industrial scenario.
However, it is interesting to observe that he chose to remain silent on the issue of near collapse of existing industries on ground like Vedanta and on the process of exodus on some of the largest investment prospects like Posco and Arcelor Mittal from the State in recent past. Probably the Government has forgotten the fallen or about to fall landmarks of Odisha, the potential of which was also unquestionable.
In wider circles, especially in industrial fraternity, his claim that the Government is decisively moving towards fulfilment of promises has not gone well as the industrial prospects in the State remains bleak. The Government is haplessly struggling to search a solution for the plight of industries, especially in iron, steel and aluminium business and many industries have either closed down or are on the verge of closure. In the industrial belts of Odisha also either due to global meltdown of metal prices or in want of raw material, the situation is not encouraging as many industries are staring at an imminent closure.
The State Government’s inability to provide raw material to mega projects like Vedanta even after a decade does not gel well with the promise of fulfilling commitment and has remained a constant source of embarrassment for the Government and a worry for prospective mega projects too. lack of persistence in resolving public conflicts, tardy land acquisition process, inordinate delays in decision making despite being in power for long and with comfortable majority in the State, the Patnaik Government has left little room for optimism. Probably, taking credit of commissioning of two recent projects is now the only achievement left with the Government to showcase the industrial vibrancy in the State.
It’s time for State Government to rise above selective choices of claiming success by turning an eye on the other fallen landmarks to whom it owes a commitment given long back but yet to be fulfilled. A holistic stock of what’s not normal will be of much help to the development of State where millions of youths, educated but unemployed, await an opportunity.