Will stop exodus of firms to other states: Prakash Mehta

Companies which have migrated out of the state in the past few years, and the reasons for their migration, will be identified, said the newly-appointed minister for industries, Prakash Mehta. The government will then rectify the mistakes which led to the migration, he said in an interaction with the media.

"I have asked the officials in my ministry to study about all the companies or industries that have moved out to other states in the past few years, and the reasons for it. All efforts will be made to bring them back," said Mehta.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had during its election campaign alleged that many companies shy away from setting shop in Maharashtra with its crumbling and inadequate infrastructure, insufficient power supply, and red tapism. The party had also claimed that many industrial units are migrating to other states, especially Gujarat. The Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had objected to the BJP's claim, saying Maharashtra has always been a leader in industrialisation and development.

Mehta also said that an upcoming 25-30% drop in water rates will bring relief to industrial units located in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) estates. The reduction is set to take effect from December 1 this year, he said.