Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Sushma Swararaj on Monday said that the state is now on the world map and people are looking toward the state because of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visionary leadership and the kind of environment the state now offers for investment.
Ms Swaraj was addressing the Global Investors’ Summit here on Monday. She said that rapid industrial growth we require natural resources, good governance, transparency in government’s working, speedy clearance of projects, good law and order situation and proper infrastructure.
The Madhya Pradesh government, under the leadership of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has created an environment which makes Madhya Pradesh a favourite destination for investment, she said adding earlier industrialists were asked to come an invest in the most backward districts whereas now they are being invited to invests by projecting development and the quality of infrastructure available in the state.
Ms Swaraj said that Madhya Pradesh is counted among the most peaceful states in the country. She focused attention on places of religious importance like Ujjain, Sanchi and Amarkantaka and said the chief minister should consider the option of setting up a department of pilgrimage to promote religious tourism. Ms Swaraj said that she was worried about the turnout at this event due to the global melt down and economic recession. Besides, her even chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani expressed similar views saying they have been overwhelmed by the huge attendance.
Addressing the gathering Mr Chouhan said: “without investment, we cannot progress or create jobs.”
Touching the sensitive issue of coal block allocation, he said that the procedure for this will have to be transparent. Only those bids should be entertained that promise electricity at the lowest price, he emphasised.
He said governments would come and go but development should remain a continuous process. In Madhya Pradesh, 80,000 kms of new roads have been built and by 2013 all villages in the state will be connected by good roads and get uninterrupted power supply. The villages will get electricity not only to light the houses but also to encourage the growth of micro, small and medium industries.