Maharashtra switches to online bidding for industrial plots to curb corruption

The Maharashtra government has initiated the process of online bidding for allocation of industrial plots by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in a transparent manner and curb the scope of corrupt practices in allotment of plots.

MIDC has already invited online bids for 30 industrial plots, marking the first attempt at corruption-free plot allotment, state industries minister Subhash Desai said.

The state government has also taken a decision of encouraging small and medium scale industries as 45 per cent overall employment is generated by these two sectors.

"I have received many complaints regarding MIDC plot allotment process. Sometime the bid opens at midnight and closes within a few hours. By the time people wake up in the morning, they find the bidding process complete. Also, no allotment of plot will kept pending by any government official," Desai said.

"Henceforth, instead of a few hours at night, there will be a 15-day period for online bidding and the process will be completed in the next one-month period through Land Allotment Committee (LAC) in a transparent manner. All processes will be transparent without willfulness of government officials," the minister added.

Desai also said the state is leading in converting memorandum of understandings into investment, adding that the state's industries department has signed 2,459 MoUs since February 2016 and a total of 736 MoUs have been converted into investment so far.

During the 'Make in India Week' held in February, the state signed 2603 MoUs involving an investment of Rs8,00,000 crore with an employment potential of 3.04 million jobs.

Addressing the media, Desai said that 262 MoUs of large scale industries and 474 MoUs of small and medium industries have been materialised so far. ''So far, Rs 6,251 crore investment has come in to the state from the MoUs of both large scale industries and SMEs, and 21, 404 people have got employment in SME sector through this. Thus, we don't just make announcements, but pursue seriously for implementation,'' Desai said.

The MoUs with Foxconn, General Motors, Vendanta Group, Raymonds, Coca Cola, Pepsico, Monsanto, Future Group, JSW, Godrej, Mahindra and Mahindra, Autodesk, etc, have already been translated to actual investments, Desai said.

''Maharashtra is India's most preferred state for investment. Our endeavour is to see to that the flow of investment continues to come in to the state, and for that, my department is working towards creating greater transparency and providing ease of doing business solutions to entrepreneurs.''

He also said the state government is looking at making power tariff for industries competitive as many companies prefer neighbouring states due to lower power tariff.

He added that the government has taken up the matter with the Ministry of Energy and it will soon come out with a power tariff policy which is competitive.

''Once the new power tariff policy comes into effect the flow of investment shall be reversed back to the state,'' he said.