Maha down to number three in foreign investments, says Chavan

Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan Tuesday claimed that although the state earlier held the numero uno position with regard to foreign investments, it has come down to number three position during the BJP-Shiv Sena rule.

Speaking to reporters here, Chavan said during the Congress-NCP rule, one third of the country's investment was in Maharashtra.

Chavan said according to the figures released by the Centre's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in 2016, Karnataka received investments worth Rs 1.54 lakh crore, Gujarat Rs 56,156 crore, but Maharashtra received investments worth only Rs 38,193 crore.

In 2017, Karnataka received Rs 1.52 lakh crore, Gujarat Rs 79,068 crore and Maharashtra got Rs 48,581 crore, it added.

The former Maharashtra chief minister added that till September 2018, Karnataka has received investments worth Rs 83,236 crore, Gujarat Rs 59,089 crore, while Maharashtra has got Rs 46,428 crore.

"Of the proposed investments in 2015, 10.7 per cent were in Maharashtra, which slid down to 9.28 per cent in 2016, and 12.29 per cent in 2017. Until September 2018, Maharashtra has received proposed investments of Rs 13.71 per cent. As compared to Maharashtra, Karnataka has received 37.55 per cent in 2016, 38.48 per cent in 2017, 24.58 in 2018," he said.

Responding to Chavan's charges, state Industries Minister Subhash Desai said Maharashtra is in number one position not only in getting foreign investment, but also in converting investment intentions into real investments, according to Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

He said the report which Chavan quoted in his press conference, depict the figures of proposed investments and not actual investments.

"It is laughable that a person, who has been a former chief minister, makes such claims despite knowing the truth. Why does he want to defame Maharashtra?" he asked.

Desai added that in September 11 projects were executed in Maharashtra, while only three were rolled out in Karnataka.

He said according to the figures released by the RBI for the quarter ended June 2018, Maharashtra received 31 per cent foreign investments, while Karnataka got eight per cent investments.