Maha govt pulls up 63 'idle investors' in MIHAN

Atleast 63 out of 81 companies, which were alloted land in the prestigious international cargo hub and airport project (MIHAN) here, have failed to commence operations even after several years, prompting the Maharashtra government to take a stern view on these "idle investors".
A meeting of the high-power task force with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as the Chairman had marathon discussions yesterday. It was decided to convene a meeting of all the 81 companies including the "idle investors" who are lagging behind in the ongoing project, to take stock of situation.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with District Gaurdian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) Managing Director Vishwas Patil and other officials were present at the meeting.

MADC-- the state government agency developing MIHAN --has already launched the process of initiating action against non-starters and issuing notices to them seeking response over non-operation of the project.
The companies facing action include some big names like HCL, Wipro, DLF, Haldiram, Max Aerospace, Paramount Conductors, Sony Polumers etc, an official release said.
Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said one more chance would be given to these 'idle investors' but they would have to submit a road map for starting their operations.

"A few companies, which have been issued notices, have approached us with a request not to cancel their land allotment. We will consider their request if they submit a concrete plan of starting work," he added.

The government has also decided to hold a meeting of industrialists and airline company representatives in Mumbai to promote MIHAN (Multi-modal International Hub Airport at Nagpur).
"The date is to be finalised but it will be held within a month," Bawankule said.
The district administration will start distribution of compensation to project affected persons (PAPs), who have chosen to take money instead of a job in MIHAN within eight days, the minister added.
Principal Secretary (Technical Education) is preparing a
special vocational course for MIHAN PAPs. Once the PAPs complete the course, MADC will ask investors to provide employment to them.

Also, a fire station will be started in MIHAN from January 1 next year.
The task force was informed that the district administration will transfer the Gajraj project land to the Defence Ministry by the end of January 2016. The actual handing over will be done after that.
The members were also informed that 668 hectares land inside the special economic zone (SEZ) and 316 hectares outside MIHAN was still available with MADC.
Of this, 200 acres have been given to IIM and another 200 acres to AIIMS, the official release added.