Bhubaneswar: Even after acquiring land at subsidised rates from the Odisha Government for industrial purposes, ventures at more than half of the allotted area are dysfunctional informed Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, in his reply to a question posed by Jajpur BJD Debasis Nayak, in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday.
Many small and large scale industries have been established at the industrial areas in the Capital city. However, locks are being displayed on half of the firms that had taken land from the government for their ventures, as per the facts presented by Mishra in the house.
As per the report presented by the Minister, 1144 firms had been provided land at subsidised rates in Chandaka and Mancheswar area, but currently 567 among them are dysfunctional.
In his reply to Nayak, Mishra had said that Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has sent show cause notices to nearly 345 organisations seeking clarification on the issue. And land lease agreements of 118 persons have been cancelled, he added.
Briefing media persons the Minister said, "Current status of the organisations, contacting us after receiving the notices, is checked by a committee. The committee checks if they have diverted their industries or are establishing new industries after taking required permissions or not. If satisfied the committee allows them to use the land or else they are asked to vacate the land."
While the government is framing new policies for development of industries, organising investors meet in and outside State and organised ‘Make In Odisha’ Conclave here, the poor picture of industrial development has invited criticism from the opposition.
BJP legislature party leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo alleged it to be a double speak of the State Government. He said, "What they are saying to people at investors meet is different from the reality. Therefore people are not returning to Odisha after being disappointed."
Expressing similar views veteran Congress leader and former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said, "The ‘Make In Odisha’ is a farce. Because of the mindset and inefficiency of the government, by inviting industrialists and signing MoUs but not providing any support later on, people are feeling dejected and criticising Odisha outside the State."
It may also be mentioned that many organisations acquiring land for industrial purpose in Capital city are using it for other purposes. After IDCO initiated the process to cancel the lease agreement of the organisations, the matter went into court. Currently more than 100 such cases are pending in the court.