Governor says state is a hot investment destination

Govt says state enjoys pre-eminence in industrialisation and favoured investment destination status

The Maharashtra government said on Wednesday that the state’s pre-eminence in industrialisation and business-friendly image make it a hot investment destination. Investment proposals worth Rs 8 lakh crore were made at the recently held Make In India Week event.

Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, in his address to the state legislature on Wednesday said the government had taken a slew of steps to reach the fruits of development to under-developed regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada as well, instead of restricting the same to Mumbai, Pune and Nashik.

The governor's statement comes close on the heels of criticism by the Opposition that state was losing its top rank as an investment destination. The Opposition parties also alleged that the agreements signed during the Make In India Week event were a mere number game. They also demanded that the government bring out a white paper on the same.

PRE-EMINENCE

• The Maharashtra government said on Wednesday that the state’s pre-eminence in industrialisation and business-friendly image make it a hot investment destination
   
• Investment proposals worth Rs 8 lakh crore were made at the recently held Make In India Week event
   
• Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Wednesday said the government had taken a slew of steps to spread the fruit of development to under-developed regions

Rao said the government has proposed  MAITRI, a single-window platform to facilitate online application and disposal of 44 permissions across 15 departments. Besides, the government has released electronics policy, retail trade policy, and ports policy to further consolidate Maharashtra's investment destination status.

Further, the governor explained the government's thrust on infrastructure development and listed out various projects including coastal highway, Nagpur Mumbai super communication expressway, Navi Mumbai International Airport, among others.

While the Opposition accused the state government of being insensitive to farmers in drought-hit villages, the governor said the government had disbursed Rs 2,536 crore and the Centre approved relief aid of Rs 3,049 crore.

This apart, the government will waive three months’ interest on the crop loan availed by the farmers who lost their crops due to natural calamities.

Admitting that the rejuvenation of farming in drought-hit areas as the biggest challenge, the governor said the government has launched Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan (water conservation project) to provide permanent relief to farmers in drought-prone villages.