Andhra CM reviews progress of new industrial projects

Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed the industries department to monitor and step up the facilitation process for all the new projects proposed by central undertakings on a priority basis.

He also asked the officials to concentrate on projects with large employment potential while reviewing the progress on MoUs signed during the Partnership Summit held in January last year, according to the chief minister’s office.

A total of 243 proposals were received during the Partnership Summit with a proposed investment of Rs 6,49,432.38 crore and an employment potential of 6,78,597. Of these, manufacturing topped the list -- 115 proposals with a proposed investment of Rs 2,94,703.85 crore and an employment potential of 4,19,826. The rest were in power, infrastructure, tourism and IT sectors.

About 10 projects had gone into production and another 11 are expected to start operations by March this year. About 13 projects, are under implementation while the remaining projects are stuck for want of mining leases, land alienation etc, the officials informed the chief minister.

Reddy also directed that the proposed mining leases should be linked with manufacturing of the product simultaneously. He also asked the finance department to release funds to meet the infrastructure requirements like water and roads.