Confident ease of investment will not clash with rights of poor: Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai

Bengaluru: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was in Bengaluru this week to drum up investment as part of the state government’s Investor Connect initiative. In an exclusive interaction with DH's Anushree Pratap and Arup Roychoudhury, Sai laid out his plans to develop the state into a hub for emerging technologies. He also touched upon legacy issues like industrial development versus tribal rights. Edited excerpts:

What has been the response from investors in Bengaluru, and in which sectors are you expecting investments?

As of today, we have received investment proposals worth Rs 3,700 crore from Bengaluru. This follows the Delhi and Mumbai editions of Investor Connect, where we got proposals worth Rs 1.27 lakh crore. We have received many proposals in the energy and steel sectors already. We also held another energy sector specific summit, where we got proposals worth Rs 3 lakh crore. We believe that all of the companies will follow through with their investments.

Bengaluru is an IT and innovation hub, and we are growing Chhattisgarh in IT as well. So in this edition of Investor Connect, we are expecting a lot of proposals from the IT sector. So far, Keynes Technology has proposed to expand the IT and ITeS (IT enabled services) sector in Raipur. Many major IT and GCC (global capability centre) organisations associated with Nasscom have also shown interest in setting up their centers in Raipur. Startup companies associated with TiE Bangalore are also looking at Raipur as their next innovation hub.

Which new sectors is the government hoping to get more investments for, in the upcoming Investor Connect in different cities?

We are planning to attract investments in new sectors such as IT, startups, green energy and manufacturing. Nava Raipur is being developed as an innovation hub for artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automation. Industrial hubs will be developed in Durg, Bhilai and Raigarh for green hydrogen and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. A pharma park is being developed in Nava Raipur for the pharma and biotech sector. There are plans to attract large investments in textiles and food processing in Bastar and Ambikapur, which will boost local employment. We are attracting investors with industry-friendly policies and quick approval processes to develop the state as a major industrial hub.

Can you give the breakup of the energy sector investments?

Some of the work from those investments has already begun. Thermal power saw Rs 1.08 lakh crore for strengthening the capacity of the state. In nuclear power, a Rs 80,000 crore investment has been promised. Pumped storage projects will receive Rs 57,046 crore in energy storage for grid stability, with another Rs 2,600 crore for enhancing the capacity of the battery energy storage system. Rs 17,000 crore is for upgrading the power transmission network, and RDSS (distribution area scheme) received Rs 10,800 crore for improving distribution infrastructure.

There has been a shift towards green energy, which we are also focusing on. Solar power received Rs 10,000 crore, and another Rs 4,100 crore will go towards PM KUSUM Yojana for promoting solar power among farmers. The CREDA Solar Initiative will see Rs 3,200 crore for solar power expansion, and from PM Surya Yojana, Rs 6,000 crore under National Solar Rooftop Project. Another Rs 2,500 crore will go towards adoption of solar power in government buildings.

In spite of being one of India’s richest states in terms of natural resources, mining only contributes around 11%. What plans do you have to increase that share while still ensuring that the conflicts we have seen between corporate interests and tribal and rural rights, do not emerge again?

We have in place a new and effective industrial policy, which focuses on employment across sections of society, including youth, tribals, SC/STs, the differently abled and others. We are constantly presenting our plans and vision to the people and taking regular feedback from them and from stakeholders. We have already received investments exceeding Rs 4 lakh crore so far. There is also focus on employment. We are taking a holistic approach to investments, including single-window clearance system, so that investors don’t feel any pain points. The aim is to create a favourable investment climate, across sectors.

We are confident that there won’t be protests for future projects. As I mentioned, we will actively engage with the public. There is good work being done, not just by us, but by the corporates as well. That apart, there are people who will protest just for the sake of it.