Chhattisgarh attracts investments worth Rs.4,000 bn

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh, which came into existence in 2000, has received Rs.4 lakh crore (Rs.4,000 billion) investment from core industries alone, the state’s Chief Secretary P. Joy Oommen said Thursday.

The state will also create three mega-industrial parks to attract fresh investment proposals, Oommen said while inaugurating a conference on minerals and metals, organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

“The state will ensure zero power cut for investors and improve infrastructure, which is not only being strengthened but intensified in semi-urban and rural areas,” he said.

“The government will set up gems and jewellery, metal, herbal, IT and bio-technology parks and has invited investors.”

Assocham, on its part, has advised the government to ease its strict forest laws and make the state’s natural resources more accessible for tribal people.

“To boost Chhattisgarh’s economy, the government should allow private mining of mineral reserves located in tribal areas to unlock this potential sector and develop not only the mining sector but also the social sector of the state,” the chamber said in a statement.

“The interest of tribals would be protected while granting such clearances. This would include development of right kind of resettlement plans, earmarking a part of the mining royalty for local development and educating the local tribal population on the economic benefits of developing mineral reserves,” the statement added.