Assembly Punctures Government's Tall Claims on industry & investment

l MLAs question rationale behind holding Advantage Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Sept 27: The Assam Assembly on Thursday expressed grave concern over poor industrial and investment scenario in the State with MLAs from both the Treasury and Opposition benches even questioning the rationale behind holding the mega Global Investors’ Summit by investing several crores in February this year.

Pabindra Deka, an MLA from the ruling AGP while the raising the issue during the Question Hour of the ongoing autumn session of the Assembly on Thursday, said it is high time for the State Government to introspect and take steps to reap the benefits of Advantage Assam—Global Investors’ Summit.

“What is the total amount of investments that came after Advantage Assam? How many youths have got jobs? These are questions being asked by the common people and the government is accountable to answer such question,” Deka said. He expressed concern that the mega food park set up in Nalbari has so far seen setting up of a single unit by a biscuit company.

Ruling BJP MLA Sanjay Kishan echoed Deka and said the plastic park set up in Tinsukia district has been remaining empty. “Why has the plastic park failed to attract a single industrial unit?” Kishan said.

Another ruling BJP MLA Atul Bora said it would have been a prudent decision on the part of the present regime at Dispur to spend a few crores in reviving the existing sick industries in the State instead of holding the mega Global Investors’ Summit in a pompous manner.

Industry & Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary failed to come up with convincing replies while he tried to respond to the issue. He informed the Assembly that the government had invested nearly Rs 5500 crore to organize Advantage Assam.

Patowary, who soon after organizing Advantage Assam had claimed that the Summit would bring investments to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 crore, on Thursday told the Assembly that the government is expecting an investment of Rs 39,000 crore. He said 207 MoUs were signed during Advantage Assam and 34 investors have so far shown interest to invest in Assam. No foreign investor (participated in Advantage Assam) has shown willingness to launch venture in Assam, Patowary said, adding the MoUs signed during the Global Investors’ Summit have been forwarded to the departments concerned for doing necessary follow ups.

The Industry Minister was seen beating around the bush over the issue and said a single Global Investors’ Summit is not enough to bring investment to Assam. “Investment came to Gujarat after several investors’ summits,” Patowary said.