CG among top 3 states having industrial growth rate: Munat

Says state second preferred destination in India for capital investment

CHB constructs 53000 houses in eight years

CECB categorises industries on nature of pollution they emit

City bus service to begin in four cities in next fiscal

House passes demand for budgetary grants of over Rs 560.29 cr for commerce & industry, housing & environment and transport departments

Raipur, March 12, 2013

Chhattisgarh marked rapid industrialisation in last nine years and has established its unique identity in the country due to its industrial development. It is among the top three states for which Planning Commission of India has predicted over 10% industrial growth rate during 12^th five year plan. These words were expressed by minister for commerce & industry, housing & environment and transport departments Rajesh Munat while he was speaking during debate over demand for budgetary grants of over Rs 560.29 crore for his departments at state assembly on Tuesday. The House passed demand for grants for these departments through voice vote.

He informed the House that Chhattisgarh was second preferred destination in the country for capital investment after Gujarat. “In 2012, the industrialists have submitted proposal of interest in union commerce and industry ministry to do capital investment of about Rs 79975 crore in Chhattisgarh,” he said.

For rapid industrialisation, the government will spend Rs 15 crore for development of industrial areas, Rs 10 crore for industrial parks, Rs 10 crore to acquire lands for new industrial areas and Rs 22 crore in developing infrastructure for existing industrial areas, he said.

Besides, there is a provision of Rs 72 crore in the budget to provide grants to the industrialists.

He informed that in core sector, the government signed 121 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 1.92 lakh crore in last nine years. “Among these, the real capital investment of over Rs 40000 crore has been done on 58 projects,” he said.

Similarly, in non-core sector, the government signed 272 MoUs and expressions of interest (EOIs) worth Rs 1.24 lakh crore during global investors’ meet on the occasion of Rajyotsav 2012, he said. “About 6.25 lakh people are expected to get employment through this initiative,” he said.

He informed that the government was also developing industrial areas in naxal-hit areas the government to expedite industrialisation. “In this connection, industrial area has been developed in Teknar (Dantewada district) while another is being developed in Gangapur Khurd (Sarguja),” he said.

The government has made a provision of Rs 20 crore each for infrastructural development of Urla industrial area (Raipur) and Bilaspur industrial area. Similarly, Rs there is a provision of Rs 4 crore for Birkoni (Mahasamund), Rs 2 crore for Korba and Rs one crore each for Champa and Jagdalpur industrial areas.

In housing sector, he informed that Chhattisgarh Housing Board (CHB) had constructed 53000 houses in last eight years. “Under its Atal Vihar Yojna, the CHB aims to construct about one lakh houses. For this, the government has provided 664 acre land to the board in 24 locations of 17 districts at the rate of Re 1 per square feet. He informed that the board would develop integrated towns to expand housing facilities in urban areas.

On environment, he said the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) had categorised industries on the nature of pollution they emit, i.e. red, orange and green. The board renews no objection certificates of industries under red category in three years, orange category – five years and green category – ten years.

On transportation, he informed in next financial year that the government would ply city buses in four cities – Jagdalpur, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Raigarh.

He further informed that there is a provision of Rs 60 lakh for revised setup of Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg regional transport offices (RTOs). Similarly, there is a provision of Rs 3 crore for RTO buildings in Kanker, Jashpur, Dantewada, Balodabazar, Mungeli and Gariyaband. He informed that the government generated over 487 crore transport revenue during current fiscal.