Naidu reluctant to establish NIMZ, alleges G V L Narasimha Rao

New Delhi:BJP MP, G V L Narasimha Rao, here on Saturday wrote a letter to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, questioning his reluctance to establish the prestigious National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in AP despite the Centre sanctioning the same to the state in 2015.
 
Referring to Naidu's tour of Ongole on Saturday, Rao asked Naidu why he was not interested in availing the benefits through special projects given by the Centre over the past four years. Accusing Naidu of showing selective interest, Rao said the Centre had sanctioned NIMZ to Prakasamdistrict on October 6, 2015 itself. This was one of the four NIMZs sanctioned in the country. 

He said it was a very prestigious project approved by the Government of India outside the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. This project would generate employment (both direct and indirect) for 2,50,000 people. Unfortunately, despite several reminders from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DPIP), Government of India, Naidu's government had shown no progress whatsoever. 

He further pointed out that as per the National Manufacturing Policy, Central Government would be extending huge benefits to Prakasam district like: 1) Development of external physical infrastructure linkages to the NIMZ  and Telecom connectivity. 2) Promotion of domestic as well as Global investments in these zones providing both skills and employment. 3) Viability gap funding in the form of capital grants 4) Skilling of local workforce on a large scale.  

Why was Naidu denying the State and its people all those benefits, he asked. He added "further, I appeal to you to concentrate on the Central Government's - approved projects. Likewise, on matters like Dugarajapatnam which was found unviable, your Government has not responded to the Central Government's proposal to set up an alternate port.