Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Mr Bhupesh Baghel has said that there will be no shortage of iron ore and coal for local industries in Chhattisgarh. The State Government is continuously making efforts in this regard with NMDC and Central Government. He has asked industrialists of Chhattisgarh to set up small units of industries for value addition in small forest produce in forest areas of the state including Bastar. Chief Minister Mr Baghel was addressing the ‘Nava Bihan of Chhattisgarh’ program held at a private hotel in the capital Raipur today.
The event organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry was also attended by Industries Minister Mr Kavasi Lakhma, Forest Minister Mr Mohammad Akbar, Parliamentary Secretary Mr Vikas Upadhyay, President of State Civil Supplies Corporation, Mr Ram Gopal Agrawal, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Mr Manoj Kumar Pingua.
Mr Baghel said in the program that for the convenience of industrialists, the State Government will take initiative to prepare a model project through the Forest Department for value addition of minor forest produce. This will facilitate industrialists in setting up such industries. With the value addition in minor forest produce, collectors will get good value of forest produce and local people will also get employment in industries. He said that rural industrial parks built in Gothans are actively working in about 300 villages of the state. Where women are engaging with the means of employment and income by conducting various economic activities, this is boosting their confidence. He said that a women’s self-help group in Ambikapur has also signed an MoU with a company to sell the ready-made vermicompost in Gauthan at the rate of Rs 16 per kg.
The Chief Minister said that during the Corona crisis, when the entire country was affected by the economic recession, the industry in Chhattisgarh remained untouched by the recession. During the lockdown, Chhattisgarh’s industries started functioning in the first week of April in the country. Our industrialists contributed significantly to this. Chhattisgarh tops the GST collection today. The credit for this also goes to the people of our industry and business. Production continued even during the Corona crisis in iron ore and coal mines in Chhattisgarh. Mr Baghel said that the state government, in consultation with industrialists, laid down the new industrial policy of the state. Due to which 103 MoUs were signed in the last two years. A capital investment of Rs 42 thousand crores is proposed in the state through these MoUs. The Chief Minister said that now the challenge of implementing these MoUs is with the state government as well as industrialists. The Chief Minister asked the officers to work in a professional manner for the implementation of these MoUs. Officers should work in better coordination with industrialists to establish industries.
Baghel said that the priority of the state government is to generate maximum employment opportunities through agriculture along with farming. He told the industrialists that if there is a need for trained workers in the industries, then the state government will arrange training for the skill upgrade of the workers. He also assured help from the state government for setting up the automobile industry, solar energy plant.
On the occasion, Industries Minister Shri KavasiLakhma said that the industrial policy of Chhattisgarh is one of the best industry policies of the country. This industry policy has been prepared after consulting everyone and studying the industrial policy of other states. This industry policy will benefit the general public including industry, business. Forest Minister Mr Mohammad Akbar said that iron, coal, electricity, water was discussed in the CII program. Today, dung is also being discussed for the first time. Today, dung is also being discussed for the first time. He said that due to the strong will power of the Chief Minister to promote industries, local investors have come forward to invest in industries. Due to the provision of grants up to 150 per cent in the industry policy, industrialists today are keen to establish industries in Bastar as well. The Indian government has given permission to make ethanol from paddy and has also set the rate of sale of ethanol. He said that our priority is villages, poor and farmers. Along with this, industries also get due respect.
President of State Civil Supplies Corporation, Mr Ram Gopal Agrawal asked industrialists to become partners in the development of the state. Principal Secretary Industries Shri Manoj Kumar Pingua while referring to the new industrial policy of the state government, single window system for acceptance of the establishment of industries, said that Chhattisgarh is on top in terms of ease of doing business. CII President Shri Amit Agarwal delivered the welcome address. Several CII officials were present on the occasion.
