After 23 clusters, 30 more worth Rs 8494 crores to be approved soon – Union Minister Gadkari

Bhopal :Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that all possible help will be provided to poor artisans by creating clusters of traditional products that provide employment opportunities, similar to Chanderi and Maheshwari handlooms in Madhya Pradesh. Shri Gadkari was addressing a brief meeting of entrepreneurs of the capital Bhopal on Sunday night at State hangar. MSME Minister Shri Om Prakash Saklecha and Public Works Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava were also present on the occasion.

Shri Gadkari said that Madhya Pradesh should use its potential and send proposals for MSME clusters that are practical in all ways. The central government will give approval within a time limit of one month. He informed that 23 clusters of Madhya Pradesh have recently been approved. Minister Shri Saklecha requested that 30 more cluster proposals of the state be approved at the central level. Shri Gadkari said that these proposals will be approved this month. He said that the Center will sanction Rs 8494 crore for the development of these clusters. He said the state government should send proposals according to its capacity, the Centre will approve every practical proposal. Union Minister Shri Gadkari while praising Madhya Pradesh’s MSME Minister Shri Saklecha said that the atmosphere has changed now due to Shri Saklecha’s thinking on technology and science in industries. He said that the Central government is committed to the development of the technical centre. Meanwhile, Shri Saklecha informed that a furniture cluster has been started recently on 700 acres of land in Indore, in which 12 thousand peoples are getting direct employment. The Union Minister said that only the MSME sector is going to provide the maximum employment in the country, which will make the country self-reliant.

100 driving schools and 52 vehicle fitness centres to open

Union Minister Shri Gadkari said that in view of the immense possibilities of skill development in Madhya Pradesh, 100 driving schools have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 100 crore as per the proposal of Madhya Pradesh government. He informed that vehicle fitness centres will also be opened in all 52 districts of Madhya Pradesh under the scrap policy.

Earlier, Minister Shri Gadkari also listened to the suggestions of industrialists. He asked the businessmen to keep their 5-year balance sheet in order and the government would list such industries in NSE and also provide its 10 percent equity. He said that industrialists can reduce the expenditure on energy by installing solar panels in their premises and control their production costs. He said that a loan of 4000 crores has recently been taken from the World Bank. Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the scheme through State Bank. He said that the Central Government is taking several steps towards making payments to small industries in time.

Rs 5 thousand crores given, indications to approve roads worth Rs 50 thousand crores

Shri Gadkari informed that continuous efforts are also being made to reduce transportation and storage costs. Highways are rapidly developing. He said that these costs would also be controlled in the form of energy in CNG and LNG vehicles. He said that 3 thousand crore rupees have been sanctioned to the Public Works Department in Madhya Pradesh and 2 thousand crore rupees under CRF. He said that if the Madhya Pradesh government provides the forest department’s clearance and land acquisition, then roads worth Rs 50 thousand crore can be approved in December.