Minister for industries Narayan Rane is consultating various sectors to evolve a comprehensive policy to meet the challenges confronting industrial growth because of slow investments in the domestic sector.
The state is working on an industrial policy to tap new avenues to boost investment and employment generation.
Minister for industries Narayan Rane is consultating various sectors to evolve a comprehensive policy to meet the challenges confronting industrial growth because of slow investments in the domestic sector.
“The thrust will be on tapping potential sectors for economic growth and employment generation,” said sources in the industry department.
What has worried the ministry is that investors of 16 special economic zones (SEZ), approved by the Centre and state, have withdrawn their proposals in the past few months.
“The SEZ-driven industrial policy needs to be abandoned and an alternative explored,” said the source. What has disappointed the administration is the strong opposition to the SEZ Act by political parties.
Of the 144 SEZs which were approved, only 62 have materialised. The biggest roadblock has been land acquisition which has often led to cost escalation of projects or forced investors to withdraw from the state.
The state, which has hoped for employment generation up to 65 lakh through SEZ alone, reckons that it is now ‘mission impossible’.
“The government is responsible for the problems. In the past 12 years of its uninterrupted governance, it has overlooked the key sectors that could provide climate for industrial growth. The major challenge remains in the power sector. With shortage of 4,500 MW, how can we expect growth in the industrial sector,” said Devendra Fadnavis of BJP.
Successive chief ministers in the Democratic Front government have exuded confidence of retaining the leading status of Maharashtra in the industry sector.
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