“Modern technologies are the need of the hour”
In order to achieve planned and systematic industrial growth throughout the State, the Maharashtra State Government has undertaken a programme of developing industrial estates in areas other than MIDC on a co-operative basis, says SACHIN AHIR, Minister of State for Industries, Government of Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a power deficit state and adding industrial units will certainly put pressure on the existing power infrastructure. In such a scenario what cautious steps the Ministry of Industries is taking?
It is true that currently Maharashtra is facing acute power shortage and adding more industries will definitely increase the burden on power infrastructure. The Ministry of Industries has taking certain steps on this (power) front. To update, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), has allotted lands to 16 power generation companies; including two gas based power projects undertaken by Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation of around 1000 mw each. We will be having joint venture with Gas Authority of India and Reliance Industries for the supply of gas to these two projects. The power generated from these will be distributed to all industries set up in MIDC region thus shifting the burden from current power structure.
Another major challenge which the state of Maharashtra faces every now and then is the scarcity of water. How do you plan to provide water to the existing and up-coming industries?
Like power, Maharashtra also faces scarcity of water and in this regard MIDC is steadfast to provide better water availability to its industrial units spread across Maharashtra. At present we have installed capacity of around 1.945 Million Liters per Day.
For your information, more than 60% of the required water has been captured from irrigation projects, 34% from available resources of MIDC and one percent from other resources.
How about Vidharbha, do you think the region has been neglected?
I don’t agree with you on the point that Vidharbha has been neglected. The region is more into power industry, and one cannot expect engineering industries to be setup, which needs basic transport facilities, coastal areas.
But in terms of coal mine allocations, private players are not happy. Since they won the allocated coal mines, they are not entitled to enter and use it due to environmental issues…
It is a fact and no one is entitled to compromise on environment issues, because we have to take into consideration the fact that global warming is not only consent to the state but country as a whole. Besides, we have some local issue too which need to be sorted by the owners who have acquired the mines. Thus, unless the issues are sorted out how can they complain about not getting access to their coal mines?
The only issue behind Navi Mumbai airport to get stuck in environment scuffle is mangroves. What have you decided on it?
We are keen to get the clearance for the Navi Mumbai airport because it will boost not only the real estate prices but economy of the state too. In this regard we are planning to replant around 350 hectares of mangroves in Dahanu, 200 km from the site. We have appointed the Gujarat Ecology Commission, an expert in mangrove replanting. The mangroves will be compensated from Navi Mumbai to Dahanu and we hope the central environmental committee accepts this.
What are the challenges the ministry is facing in terms of industrial infrastructure. Is it capital, man-power or the technology up-gradation?
Let me begin with the technology. We cannot compromise with the technology front, we need to have modern day technology which anyways reduces the time consuming factor for labors. The modern technologies are the need of the hour and without upgrading as a state, or as a country you cannot survive in the competitive market.
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