In the run up to the elections held last year, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised industrial prosperity along with huge employment opportunity in Odisha. BJP leaders promised to provide employment to five lakh youth in the state. After assuming office, the BJP government has successfully organised the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave within a year in power. The investment intent received at the mega event exceeded the set target. However, there is still a confusion regarding how many of these proposed industries will be realised. Last month, the Chief Minister inaugurated four large industries in Jajpur. While BJP leaders are calling this the foundation of the industrial corridor, BJD claims that the industries that are being established now are the contribution of the previous Naveen government. On the other hand, Congress has said that neither industries are being established nor employment is being created during the BJP government. Now, the question is, how successful is the BJP government in the industry sector?
Who should get credit for industry?
The BJP government is announcing plans for establishing large industries and creating huge employment. It says industry will give strength to Vision 2036 for which the government is creating the necessary environment for more investment in the state. In this regard, the Chief Minister has also inaugurated four large industries in Kalinganagar of Jajpur. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi himself visited various industrial institutions after a tour of Singapore and invited industrialists in Delhi and Mumbai. The state government has promised full cooperation by providing raw materials and land for the establishment of industries. However, BJD has called the industrial scenario in the double engine government depressing and counted the achievements of the previous government. The party has also claimed that the previous Naveen government has contributed to the industrial establishment taking place in the state now.
JSW dilemma
There was a discussion about shifting the JSW electric vehicle and battery manufacturing project proposed to be set up at Naraj in Cuttack at an estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crore. During the previous BJD government, the cabinet had approved the proposal for the world’s largest electric vehicle unit. Subsequently, it was reported that JSW had decided to move its proposed EV factory from Odisha to Maharashtra. Later, the company clarified that it had no plan to shift the proposed plant from Odisha. JSW had said that it would manufacture its EV vehicles in Odisha. So far, the work is not progressing in that direction.
Is investor confidence falling?
BJD claims that the confidence of investors in Odisha is decreasing as the BJP government in the state completes one year. It is also said that the ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel project proposed to be set up in Kendrapada is going to be shifted to Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, BJD claims that the vaccine production centre of Bharat Biotech in Andharua, Bhubaneswar, has become fully operational, but it has not been able to rely on the state leadership and plans to shift to another state. The opposition has also blamed the law and order situation and sluggish governance in the state for this.
Apart from the metal sector, a lot of investment is coming to the state in the fields of IT, food processing, garments, and petrochemicals. It is important to make these related industries a reality. Concrete steps for creation of proper infrastructure along with a land bank are essential for providing an industry-friendly climate. Odisha will become the first choice of investors if a proper environment is created in the state.
