Better infra in backward areas is the need of the hour

Lucknow,June 27(HS)A large number of investors have shown interest in Uttar Pradesh this year as well but they are still shying away from drought-prone Bundelkhand and economically backward eastern part of the state,worrying the government.

One reason may be lack of infrastructure.New roads are being constructed and some other steps are being taken to improve connectivity.But as long as there is no improvement in the field industrial scenario in the are is unlikely to improve.

Oveall,the state has become a new industrial destination now and the situation is looking up in this sector but the regional imbalance has to be removed for all-round development of the state,industry sources said.

Investment proposals worth Rs 4.28 lakh crores were received during  the investors summit in February last year.It was modelled on Gujarat.Most of them are likely to see the light of the day by 2022.But the industrially backward areas have been largely left out.

In next six months,many of these proposals had taken concrete shape.Clearances were obtained and groundbreaking ceremonies were held for projects worth over Rs 60,000 crores.Preparations are on to hold another such ceremony.

The picture of the state as a whole looks rosy. In comparison to previous years it certainly does.In 2016,for example,when the Samajwadi Party was at the helm of affairs industrial proposals worth only Rs 13,000 crores were received.The year before that was worse.

Acccording to an official report,the state ranked tenth in the country three years ago.Now it has become the fifth state as far as investment proposals are concerned.

The state,in addition to other areas,has attracted investment in renewable energy field.Over 40 Memorandums of Understanding or MoUs have been signed so far.The proposal is to create renewable energy of the order of 10,000 MW by 2022.Rooftop solar energy alone has been targeted at 4300 MW.

The government proposes to set up solar plants to produce 1500 MW by the end of the next year.Necessary measures have been already taken in this regard.

To achieve this big target, heavy private investment is required.The government,therefore, is in touch with some top industrial houses.Some new incentives may be offered to them.