512 MoUs Signed, only 30 Executed
The Odisha government signed 512 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various industries over the last five years, aiming to boost investment in the state. However, only 30 of these projects have been partially or fully executed, revealed Industries Minister Sampad Swain in the Assembly on Friday.
Proposed Investments and Job Creation
Responding to a question from Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati about the progress of industrial projects, Swain provided detailed figures. “From 2020 to March 2024, Odisha signed 512 MoUs with a proposed investment of Rs 11,85,281.40 crore for several mega projects through the State-level Single Window Clearance Authority. The execution of these projects could have created 531,000 job opportunities,” he stated.
Current Status and Investments
Despite the high number of MoUs, only 30 projects have seen progress, bringing in investments worth Rs 19,528 crore. If these projects become fully operational, they are expected to generate an additional 20,251 job opportunities, Swain noted.
Opposition’s Criticism
Following Swain’s report, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati criticized the Minister, accusing the government of providing incomplete information. “The present BJP government’s focus is ‘Bikashit Odisha.’ Several companies, with the help of the then BJD government, procured land from Tribal communities in Koraput to establish factories in 2004-2005. Even after two decades, there is no sign of a factory in the district. Both BJP and BJD are misleading the people,” Bahinipati alleged.
Land Allocation for Industries
Notably, during this period, the Odisha government provided 8,652 acres of land to 235 industries for setting up their factories in the state. The gap between the number of MoUs signed and the projects executed raises questions about the effectiveness of the state’s industrial policy and implementation.
(With inputs from agencies)
