Maharashtra only 5th in investment potential

Despite claims of having attracted investment worth Rs 8 lakh crore, the economic think-tank National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has ranked Maharashtra fifth on the list of states having most investment potential. Gujarat has topped the list, followed by Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Reacting to the report, the opposition Congress-NCP leaders have questioned the state government’s claims about investments and demanded that it publish a white paper on it. “The state has made tall claims of attracting investment of '8 lakh crore in Make in India event. But we want to know the exact details of the investment. It was fake in India campaign. State will have to explain the actual employment generation status by issuing the white paper,” leader of Opposition in the council Dhananjay Munde said.

Another NCP leader and the party spokesperson Nawab Malik expressed surprise over the report and said Maharashtra ranked first in investment till Congress-NCP government was in power. “The state received the highest foreign direct investment till last year. But now the BJP government will have to explain why the state is in fifth position. The MoUs claimed by the government were fake and we are doubtful about the investment,” he added.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant termed the report as discriminatory. “The Centre is discriminating against Maharashtra. The CM is boasting about the investment but the reality is different. Gujarat has got favour and Maharashtra has been relegated to the fifth position. Till our government was in power, the state has received the highest 32 per cent foreign direct investment in the country,” Mr Sawant said.

While Gujarat topped in governance and political stability, and perceptions, Delhi ranked first in infrastructure and economic climate. NCAER’s senior fellow Indira Iyer said this report is different from World Bank’s report, which was released last year, though it complements that ranking.

DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said the report has cited corruption, delay in getting approvals and hurdles in getting environmental clearance as top three constraints.