Tag: Global Investors

Momentum Jharkhand likely to generate 70,000 jobs

Source: dailypioneer.com

At least 70,000 jobs are likely to be created in Jharkhand through a total of 504 ventures for which the State has performed ground breaking ceremonies so far since its maiden global investors’ summit held in February 2017, officials from the State Industries Department said on Thursday.

Addressing media persons here on Thursday, Industries department Secretary K Ravi Kumar said that the State performed ground breaking ceremonies for at least 504 ventures from May 2017 to December 2018. These ventures are expected to bring an investment of Rs.50627 crore to the State and generate 72,682 direct jobs, he added. The projects will also provide around 1,90,000 indirect employments, a document released by the department said.

“We organised several branding and promotional events for luring investors to Jharkhand since 2016. At least five national and three international road shows were organized to spread awareness about the scope of investment in the State,” said Kumar, highlighting the achievements of the incumbent Government in boosting investments here.

Some of the major investors among the companies include Adani Power, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd, and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), he said. The Government expects Adani Power alone to generate at least 2,000 jobs and two NTPC projects to generate 1,200 and 1,000 jobs respectively.

In a bid to facilitate investments in the State, the Government here also introduced sector specific policies, said Kumar, adding that at least seven policies were framed in Jharkhand since 2015 for making the investment process easy and present a clearer picture of returns to the investors. In 2015, the Government introduced the Jharkhand Industrial Park Policy, Jharkhand Export Policy, Jharkhand Feed Processing Industry Policy and Jharkhand Food Processing Industry Policy. In 2016, the State framed the Jharkhand Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy, Jharkhand Automobile & Auto Component Policy and Jharkhand Textile, Apparel & Footwear Policy.

“Our sector specific policies have helped encourage investments in the State. Ranchi, for example, is fast developing into a hub for textile, apparel and footwear sectors,” Kumar said.

Under the food processing policy, at least 73 food processing units were set up in Jharkhand with an investment of over Rs 500 crore, Kumar added.

Jharkhand has more than 40 per cent of the country’s mineral reserves and has been on a mission to utilise the resources to bring development through industrial growth. The State is also among the largest producers of Tussar silk and the Government has taken several initiatives in the recent past to boost and streamline production of Tussar here. In year 2017-2018, Jharkhand produced 2217 metric tonnes of Tussar. Around 7000 silk farmers were provided professional trainings in the same year.

In the past four years, Jharkhand also became the first state in India to constitute a council for Corporate Social Responsibility. The Jharkhand State Corporate Social Responsibility Council (JSCSRC) monitors and utilizes CSR funds for development of State, said Kumar.

No ease of business for this Jharkhand entrepreneur

Source: telegraphindia.com

A soft coke unit, whose foundation stone was laid by none other than chief minister Raghubar Das in December 2017 as a showpiece project borne out of the state’s first Global Investors’ Summit earlier in the year, is yet to have a power connection.

BL Soft Coke Industry, set up by Sastrinangar industrialist B.L. Agarwal at Kalyanpur, about 13km from here, by investing around Rs 65 lakh, has been running on power from diesel generator sets, leading to higher costs that has adversely impacted the SME’s bottomline.

Worst, a scrubber installed as per Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board guidelines to control emissions, hasn’t been functioning properly for want of a regular power connection.

“We had high hopes when we went to Bokaro in December 2017 during the state’s third ground breaking ceremony. Foundation stones were laid online of as many as 105 units with chief minister Raghubar Das presiding over the function amidst much fanfare. But till now, one of our basic requirements hasn’t been fulfilled,” said B.L Agarwal’s son, Gaurav, who runs the unit on behalf of his father.

Gaurav said they had approached officials of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam (JBVNL) in Dhanbad more than 30 times ever since they had applied for an electricity connection on September 6, 2017. “But, we are yet to get a power connection. We are facing a lot of difficulties,” he said.

A year ago, Gaurav received a call from an official in the state government’s single window cell that is supposed to streamline permissions and clearances that entrepreneurs may require.

“I was asked if I was facing any difficulty. I told them about the delay in getting an electricity connection. But the issue is yet to be resolved,” he said.

Soft coke is a byproduct of coal with lesser ash content and moisture. BL Soft Coke Industry produces around 400 tonnes of soft coke per month for which it requires 30-40 litres of diesel to run generators and other factory equipment.

JBVNL junior engineer Chandan Kumar promised to resolve the issue in a day or two. “We have already completed all formalities for awarding a connection to BL Soft Coke Industry. There was an error in the company’s application form. Instead of applying for a 10HP (horse power) connection the factory applied for a 2KVA connection,” he said.

Gaurav admitted the error, but reasoned that it could not be the reason for such an inordinate delay. “The power connection could always have been given and the issue of load sorted out later. I can’t understand the reason for the delay when there is electricity in all the villages near my factory,” he said.

Jharkhand Industries and Trade Association general secretary Rajiv Sharma said the experience of BL Soft Coke shows how red tape is killing entrepreneurship. “JBVNL is earning a bad name for itself and for Jharkhand. The state government is framing policies for the convenience of businessmen with good intentions, but the benefit of the policies are not reaching the targeted people,” he rued.