Mesmerised

Ranchi, April 30: Hannover Messe — the world’s largest trade fair — has virtually mesmerised the state team that visited Germany under deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto.

The stopovers at Switzerland and Paris made the trip even more interesting, said the team members after landing here. The foreign sojourn cost the state exchequer around Rs 80 lakh but the team members were unable to explain how the state would benefit from their experience.

Radha Krishna Kishore, a JD (U) MLA who accompanied the entourage, said: “We have encouraged the chamber of commerce representatives of Paris and Berlin to invest in iron-ore based industries in the state. Apart from that, talks were also held on how to develop the road and health infrastructure. They discussed water conservation and renewable energy.”

State industry director Sunil Kumar echoed a similar tone even as both Kishore and Kumar know that over 50 MoUs have been signed between the state government and mega-sector investors but most of them have gone haywire.

Chairman of Jharkhand Rajya Khadi Evam Gramudyog Board, Jainandu, who also enjoyed the foreign sojourn, refused to divulge details about how the state would benefit from this foreign trip.

“Deputy chief minister would arrive tomorrow from Delhi. He is expected to organise a news conference to let people know how important this trip was. Please do not force me to reveal details,” said Jainandu, considered to be a close associate of Sudhir Mahto.

Girinath Singh, the RJD legislator from Garhwa, after alighting at Birsa Munda airport this evening, said: “We are lagging 100 years behind those countries in every aspect of development.”