All projects de-listed by the industries department have a chance to get back in the list of approvals only if they can prove that they are serious towards investment.
Naveen Verma, principal secretary, industries department, said the state government was only looking towards serious investors. “The proprietors of the de-listed projects had to prove themselves worth and their fresh applications, if any, would be carefully studied before approval yet again,” he added.
At the first Udyog Cabinet last week, the government had de-listed 33 coal-based thermal power projects from the approval list of the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) stamping them as “non-serious”. The government said these projects had not been set up in the state even years after they were approved and they did not have the basic infrastructure too like land availability or coal linkage. The total worth of investments from these projects was in tune of Rs 2,25,300 crore.
“Any coal-based power plant needs coal linkage. Most of these projects had been approved long back but they were still unable to make their presence felt in the state and hence they were removed. However, they are still welcome in Bihar only if they prove that they are serious investors this time. The government, since last year, has gone tough on giving SIPB approvals. These de-listed projects are definitely not banned in Bihar but then they should have 10 per cent of the total project amount with them at any given time. In other words, they should be net worth 10 per cent of the total project cost. Further, they should have a clear and genuine plan regarding land availability with them in addition to coal linkage. If they can convince the SIPB, which is headed by the development commissioner and show the board the documents, they will be given approvals again,” Verma said on Monday.
In addition to the de-listing of these 33 projects, the axe is also hanging on at least 50 solar power plant projects worth Rs 17,373 crore with the energy department being asked to check the status of all of them before a decision can be taken.
At present, there are 1,881 projects worth a total of around Rs 2.84 lakh crore which have been approved by the SIPB. If one subtracts the proposed investments figure (Rs 2.25 lakh crore) from these coal-based thermal power plants, the investment stands at around Rs 60,000 crore.
“The decision is in connection with all the projects and the SIPB approval list is being checked regularly now. If a project is worth Rs 100 crore, they should have Rs 10 crore at least with them in addition to a proper and well-made detailed project report (DPR)The investors have to look for their own land but they are always welcome to apply for the same to the Biada, which has very little land and a long waiting list at present,” another department official said.
“The industry cabinet has failed to address any issues related to an immediate way of land availability to announcing a full proof process of strengthening the single window system. Without focusing on policy correction, they have sent a confused signal in the form of de-listing. This simply means that the investors of these projects were not given any facilities earlier as a result they could not set up industries in the state,” said Satyajeet Kumar Singh, chairman, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
