Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) members met Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra today at a meeting held in respect of Vidarbha’s industrial development in which VED tabled its ideas which were immediately taken up and Dr. Vipin Sharma, CEO, MIDC, who advised the relevant department officers to take note of the issues for furthering action on them.
Among the issues that were found to be doable proposals, tabled by Devendra Parekh, President, VED Council, and were regarded as acceptable by the DCM and Industries Minister, Uday Samant, to take action upon, were the setting up of a Ferro alloys cluster in Ramtek. VED was asked to scout for land in Ramtek, and was assured that such a cluster would be granted concessional power tariff.
The DCM and Industries Minister advised the relevant officers to initiate the conducting of a feasibility study for the setting up of a petrochemical complex which VED has been rooting since almost a decade. This would be of a 1.5 MT capacity, at an investment of Rs. 35,000 Cr.
As regards a 5 MT integrated steel plant in Gadchiroli district, VED was asked to approach the Govt of India. Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) could set up this Steel Plant of 5 MT capacity in Gadchiroli, at an investment of Rs. 30,000 Cr, via blast furnace, as proven tracts of iron ore still exist there, though they are yet to be auctioned. Also Limestone is available at Aheri nearby.
Relevant department officers were also advised to initiate the setting up of an IIT Powai, Extension Campus in MIHAN in Nagpur in 20-25 acres, for short-term programmes, upgrading programmes, class-rooms, for diploma, certificates and Corporate sponsorships for further education. IIT Kharagpur has already set he example by setting up three extension campuses, at Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar and Raipur for research and innovation where industry and academia work together, foster entrepreneurship skills by bringing research, development and the industry under a single roof.
Shivkumar Rao, IPP, VED Council informed that the logistics policy active since 2018 was nothing but a warehousing policy, whereas there was much more to it. Rao informed them of the tremendous opportunities that would open up as the Samruddhi Mahamarg came into being as a full-fledged expressway. VED was then given the mandate to prepare a Logistics Policy for the Govt of Maharashtra, to be ready by March 2023, when it could be announced at a conclave hosted by the Govt. of Maharashtra and VED Council.
Navin Malewar, Treasurer, VED Council, was also present at the meeting.
