The state government on Tuesday unveiled its ambitious industrial policy aimed at attracting investments of Rs5 lakh crore and creating 20 lakh jobs in five years after the policy is implemented.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the policy aims at setting up an investor aftercare service to help companies planning to set up shops in the state. He also said the investors will be able to track their files on a website that will be set up for the purpose.
The policy aims at ensuring an annual growth of 12-13% in the manufacturing sector, which will account for 25% of the state’s GDP from the present 21%. “Only the manufacturing sector can provide low skill jobs to millions,” said the CM.
Earlier, an official told DNA that land, which will be made available for projects, had the necessary infrastructure. “In the past, land would be acquired and then infrastructure added; now before the land is acquired it will have the necessary infrastructure such as connectivity, power and water. Once cleared, the time taken for implementation of the project is very little,” the official said.
The policy also pointed out that the availability of land for projects was a hurdle in the rapid expansion of industry.
However, chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad said Maharashtra was in the process of acquiring 60,000 hectares of land in the next five years for industrial projects.
The draft also identified some key concerns, such as development only in Mumbai and Pune. “The aim is to have a more balanced regional growth in cities such as Nashik, Solapur, Aurangabad and Nagpur,” he added.
Another worry is the dependence on agriculture and the reluctance of farmers to move away. The policy will look at ways to make industry more attractive.
