The Hindu Business Line : Jharkhand to set up infrastructure corpn

To sustain growth
The corporation would be a 50:50 venture between IL&FS, IDC and the Jharkhand Government.
The new SEZ and Adityapur Toll Bridge projects were being constructed under the PPP format.
On-going projects to be put on fast track under the new body

EASTERN ACT: The Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Mr Sushil Modi, the CII President, Mr Y.C. Deveshwar, and the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Mr Arjun Munda, at a CII meet on `Sustainable growth in the East' in Kolkata on Wednesday. — A Roy Chowdhury

Kolkata , April 12

The Jharkhand Government is in the final stages of formalising an infrastructure corporation based on the PPP (public-private partnership) model.

Participating in the special plenary - Building Competencies - of the workshop on `Sustainable growth in the East', organised by the CII, Eastern Region, Mr Arjun Munda, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, said the body, to be named Jharkhand Infrastructure Corporation (JINFRA), would be a 50:50 venture between IL&FS, IDC and the Jharkhand Government.

He said JINFRA would put many of the on-going infrastructure projects in the State on a fast track for early disposal.

PPP structure

Pointing out that a strong PPP structure was already in place, he said "we have opened up the entire infrastructure sector for partnerships with the private sector - roads, bridges, hotels, hospitals, private industrial estates - all come within the ambit of PPP," Mr Munda informed that the new SEZ and Adityapur Toll Bridge projects in Jharkhand were being constructed under the PPP format.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Mr Sushil Modi, outlining the fresh initiatives launched by the Nitish Kumar Government in the last four and half months to attract investments into Bihar, sought a fair deal from the Centre for the eastern States which have fallen behind.

He urged Mr Munda to take the initiative for creating a pressure Group for effective dialogue with the Centre.

Commenting on the PPP route to attract fresh capital into Jharkhand for infrastructure development, Mr Munda said the key challenge pertained to the mining sector, particularly coal.

Mineral resources

Pointing out that it was ironic that while the State is sitting on huge mineral resources, the Centre had a say on allotment of mining blocks for major minerals, Mr Munda said the Government does not act on the recommendations of the State. "Although we produce more than 40 per cent of the coal in the country, industries in Jharkhand are not given appropriate and timely linkages of coal."

Lamenting that certain Central PSUs have taken big leases for iron ore and have not used these for over 50 years, he said "neither would they surrender the same in favour of the State PSUs for better utilisation of the leases".

Citing the challenges with regard to allotment of land, he said for the acquisition process to be smooth and voluntary, there has to be a people-friendly rehabilitation and resettlement policy.

Suggesting that the existing policy on land acquisition was not acceptable to the people of Jharkhand, Mr Munda said his Government was now trying to improve upon the national policy, keeping in mind the aims and aspirations of the local people.

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