Jharkhand ministers' foreign jaunts fail to yield dividends
Nov 20, 2006 - 2:20:35 PM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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He added: 'My government had even come out with a rehabilitation policy to ensure investment in the state but those who are in the government now were protesting the investments.'
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By Indo Asian News Service,
[RxPG] Ranchi, Nov 20 (IANS) Jharkhand ministers have reportedly spent around Rs.30 million on foreign tours to attract investments in the last five years, but not a single industry has come up as a result.
Former chief minister Babulal Marandi and his associates had visited Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore in 2002 and the total expenses incurred on the tour were around Rs.3.5 million.
In 2005, Arjun Munda and colleagues visited Britain, France, and Switzerland, which cost Rs.7 million. Munda is said to have made a trip to the US and London this year too with the expenditure nearing Rs.14 million.
Apart from tours of ministers, the government organised several road shows and exhibitions within and outside the country to attract investors.
A road show was held in Mumbai in 2002 costing Rs.2 million and an exhibition was organised in Malaysia in December 2005. The state also participated in the International Trade Fair at Hanover, Germany, in April incurring an expenditure of Rs.3.7 million.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), one of the key partners of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led government, has demanded action against the former National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ministers for misusing the state's money.
'Money was spent but not a single industry was set up in the state,' said Manohar Yadav, state general secretary of RJD.
Rubbishing these charges, Munda told IANS: 'It is wrong to say that no industries have came to the state. Over 50 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth more than Rs.2.1 trillion were signed with investors due to the efforts of my government.'
He added: 'My government had even come out with a rehabilitation policy to ensure investment in the state but those who are in the government now were protesting the investments.'
But Yadav said the MoUs were a mere 'eyewash' and added that nothing concrete had taken place.
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