New investments: Gujarat pushed to eighth position, even UP and Rajasthan overtake "India's growth engine"

By Rajiv Shah
It is not just in investments completed that Gujarat is lagging behind several states (click HERE to read). The situation has turned worse for new investments in the state, regarded as “growth engine of India”. Analysis carried out by a researcher with India’s premier independent research body Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) suggests that while Tamil Nadu tops the list of states with new investments in the quarter ended September 2014, Gujarat ranks eighth, with six other states performing better – Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.
The researcher, Pradnya Deo, has said, “Announcement of new investments in Gujarat was lower in the quarter at Rs 65.3 billion, in comparison to Rs 176.5 billion in June 2014”, adding, of this, investment worth Rs 28.5 billion was in the shipping transport infrastructure segment alone. Giving details, the researcher said, “Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd announced development of a fourth container terminal at the Mundra port at a cost of Rs. 21 billion”, and “Reliance Industries Ltd announced expansion of the Jamnagar Liquid Jetty Project, by setting up an additional berth” for Rs 7.5 billion.”
“Tamil Nadu topped the charts with new investments worth Rs 373.2 billion, highest in the past four years”, the researcher said, adding, important contributors were announcement by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) to set up a 4,000 MW Tamil Nadu Solar Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) for Rs 260 billion, and the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (SIPCOT) announcement to set up a thermal power project at Tuticorin, with an investment of Rs. 32 billion.
Other “slew of industrial projects” announced by the Tamil Nadu government included “a desalination plant has been proposed at Kadaladi in the Ramanathapuram district, with Rs 15 billion investment and a capacity of 15 million litres per day (mld). Another Rs 72.7 billion investments were announced by the state government in the storage & distribution segment”, Deo said.
Then was the turn of Andhra Pradesh, which stood second with “substantial new investments” worth Rs 339 billion”. Of this, Rs 170.5 billion (nearly 50 per cent) was the solar energy sector. “Andhra Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for setting up a 1,000 MW solar park at Kadiri in Anantapur district at Rs 70 billion. It signed a MoU with NVVNL (NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd) as well, for 1,000 MW Kurnool Solar Project at Rs. 65 billion. The Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corp Ltd (APGENCO) has also announced a 500 mw Kadapa Solar Power Project costing Rs 32.5 billion”, the researcher noted.
As for Maharashtra, Deo said, it “stood third with new investments worth Rs 267.6 billion. This included announcement of a dry port at Aurangabad by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), with an investment of Rs. 150 billion. JNPT has also announced to develop a dry port at Wardha. Goods from these two dry ports shall be sent to the JNPT port for further exports by rail network.”
Karnataka came fourth -- it saw new investments worth Rs 126.9 billion, mainly in the steel industry. “Kalyani Steels has planned to double the capacity of its carbon alloy steel plant at Koppal to 1.4 million tonnes, at a cost of Rs. 55.3 billion. While, Sandur Manganese & Iron Ore Ltd received a Terms of Reference (ToR) approval from the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for expansion of its existing ferro alloy plant capacity at Hanumanhalli in Hospet district”, Deo said.
The fifth rank was of Uttar Pradesh, which saw “the highest amount of new investments in the quarter in the past four years, at Rs. 126.1 billion”, the researcher said. “This includes approval of the Rs. 52.8 billion Meja Phase II Thermal Power Project by the state government, entailing two units of 660 mw each. Another Rs. 70.6 billion investment in Uttar Pradesh was announced in the power sector.”
“The sixth rank was of Rajasthan, which announced new investments worth Rs. 125.9 billion, mainly in the power sector. On September 1, 2014, Adani Power announced to expand the capacity at its Kawai Coal Based Thermal Plant by 1,600 MW (two units of 800 mw each) to 2,920 MW, at a cost of Rs 91 billion”, Deo said.
And, the seventh position in new investments was of Telangana, at Rs 107.4 billion. “Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd (BHEL) is in talks with the Telangana government for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) order for the Manuguru Coal Based Thermal Power Project. The Rs 43.2 billion project entails four units of 270 mw each. Southern Power Distribution Corporation of Telangana Ltd (SPDCT) has also proposed to set up a 500 mw solar plant at Adilabad, with an investment of Rs. 32.5 billion”, the researcher said.

Comments

Anonymous said…

almost 70-80% investment is in power sector and in gujarat its already done a long ago :)

October 14, 2014

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh* Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog