Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday addressed the Global Investors’ Meet organised by the ASSOCHAM in New Delhi and invited the entrepreneurs to invest in fast developing Chhattisgarh.
Singh said, “The country is rapidly developing under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chhattisgarh is progressing rapidly as a member of ‘Team India’. Chhattisgarh is an ideal investment destination as it provides security and safety.’
He further said, “Chhattisgarh is viewed as Naxalites’-affected State. The menace had been stamped out. The State Government had provided basic civic amenities such as road connectivity, electricity, education and medical facilities.’’
Giving details about the development ushered in the mineral-rich State in recent years, Singh stated that the socio-economic environment had significantly changed in the past few years.
“An ultra-mega steel plant worth Rs 18,000 crore is being set-up in Bastar by the Steel Authority of India limited (SAIl) and another ultra-mega steel plant worth Rs 18,000 crore is being set-up by the NMDC ltd,’’ the Chief Minister informed.
He added that a 235-km railway track is being laid from Dallhirajhara to Raoghat-Jagdalpur. About Rs 40,000 crore is likely to invested in Bastar soon. ‘Education City’ had been established at Dantewada for the children of victims of Naxalites’ violence.
Raman Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat unveiled a booklet on the occasion. Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Aman Kumar Singh and Industry Department Secretary Subodh Kumar Singh were also present.
Chief Minister spoke in details regarding the achievements of new State Chhattisgarh. He said that electricity is the strongest point of the State. The Electricity generation is 24,000 megawatt which is five times higher than the demand. The target is to attain electricity generation of 35,000 MW by year 2020.
About 37,000 km road network had already been laid and another 9,000 km will be added over the next four years. An investment of Rs 35,000 crore will be done on laying of roads in the next couple of years. About 550 km railway network is being expanded. The proposal is to expand 1,300 railway network in five years.
Raman Singh revealed that Raipur’s Swami Vivekananda Airport had bagged the Best Airport Award in the non-metro category. Cargo facility also had been started this year. Efforts are being made to upgrade it as an International Airport. Air strips had been laid at Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, Raigarh and Ambikapur. Steps had been taken to develop air services in all four corners of the State. Container depot is being built at Naya Raipur on a 100-acre site.
Chief Minister added that paddy is the main crop of the State. The State had bagged National Krishi Karman Award in record production of paddy three times and for pulses once.
Chief Minister said that the State Budget was Rs 5,000 crore only at the time when the State was carved out in year 2000 which had risen to 76,000 crore in the fiscal 2016-2017. The GSDP had increased by five times from Rs 47,000 crore to Rs 250,000 crore during the past 15 years.
He added that Chhattisgarh is the first State in India to be declared ‘Power cuts-free’ State. The electricity is available 24 hours and the cost per unit is the lowest in the entire country.
The rate of growth of the State is higher than of national average. The State had taken several steps to upgrade industrial infrastructure. There are 42 Industrial Zones in the State at present. Metal Park, Engineering park, Food park, Plastic park and Aluminium park are in the process of being established. There is a proposal to establish an Industrial Zone in every district. The zones are provided with electricity, roads and water facilities.
Singh called upon the investors to apply ‘Online’ and get land allocated the next day. He added that six thousand hectare land bank is being planned. Investment proposals to the tune of Rs 6 lakh fifty nine thousand crore had been received, which is nearly 14 per cent of the investment proposals in the entire country. MoUs to the tune of Rs 55,000 crore had been inked in the current fiscal.
Chief Minister said that the State had progressed tremendously in the ‘core’ sectors-steel, cement, aluminium and electricity generation. The focus now is on the non-core sectors-electronics, information technology, defence industry, railways, heavy engineering, 'plastium' industry, food processing, herbal processing and Services sector.
The State is inviting investors ‘Make in Chhattisgarh’ similar to that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make In India’ Mission. Five-Year Industrial Policy had been launched (2015-2019). The State had formulated a policy to give a fillip to ‘Digital India’ campaign.