Maharashtra-Gujarat Spar Over Gems And Jewellery

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 BY R.K. MISRA

Instant solutions have long term implications for governments may come and governments may go but bruises blight for long.

In recent times, three states saw popular  mandate being side-stepped to ensure change of horses mid-stream. The verdict is out in Karnataka with the Congress back in the saddle, this time on its own steam. Madhya Pradesh is full scale in poll mode and the outcome is just around the corner. Maharashtra, the third state has just about a year to go but the government so cobbled seems foot sore and travel weary.  Whatever may be the outcome , It is however the fall-out of  this politics that is impacting popular perceptions between neighbours- Maharashtra and Gujarat-  and calls for a soothing touch.

Once a part of  bi-lingual Bombay state, the separation was not rancour-free and while the hurt may have healed, the sore remains, surfacing every time the’ sunny’ summer gives way to the winter ‘chill’.

The latest spot of abrasion-whether perceived or real- is caused by the push and pull over  India’s largest Gems and Jewellery park. On the one hand Surat in South Gujarat, considered one of the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing centre is set to inaugurate the Surat Diamond Bourse(SDB) on December 17,while on the other The Gems and Jewellery Export promotion Council(GJEPC) and the Bharat Diamond Bourse(BDB) are moving strong to set up the country’s largest gem  and Jewellery park in Navi Mumbai at an estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crores.

According to Melvyn Thomas, the Surat-based editor of the Blunt Times who closely monitors the sector feels that  the move gained impetus after Vallabhbhai Lakhani, chairman of Kiran Gems announced  shifting base from BDB in Mumbai to Surat along with his1200 employees. He has already constructed flats for them  in close proximity t the SDB. Lakhani is  also considered to be the brainchild of the Surat project.

 Maharashtra Industries minister Uday Samant is determined to push the Navi Mumbai project ,which according to him, will create one lakh new jobs, and has also announced that additional land will be allocated next to the park for  the residence of the workers employed therein. However, for Surat , which houses  a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)  the abiding concern would be that of affordability if they relocate to Navi Mumbai.

The Maharashtra government has already approved subsidy incentives for Jewellery Park such as 5 FSI; One Rupee Electricity Subsidy for all units and 2 rupee for LGD units in the Park; waiver of Electricity Duty for all units in the Park; 50% SGST waiver for 5 years to all units in the Park; 5% interest subvention on Term Loan for all MSME units; and Stamp duty waiver to IJPM for lease.

 Meanwhile ,with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBITC) adding Surat to the list of towns where private bonded warehouses for diamonds can be established, the city is  the fifth jurisdiction in India to facilitate the setup of private bonded warehouses for diamonds, following in the footsteps of CSI Airport, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Air Cargo Export in Delhi, and Airport and Air Cargo in Chennai. The circular issued by the CBITC designates Surat under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad.

Thomas  says that the tug-of-war between Surat and Mumbai over India's largest gems and jewellery park is a sign of the growing competition between the two cities for business and investment. On October 24, about 983 diamantaires participated in the Kalash ceremony at the SDB.

There has already  been noticeable disquiet in Maharashtra after Vedanta-Foxconn  who were in advanced talks  with Maharashtra, signed  an MOU  with the Gujarat government to set-up their semi-conductor and display manufacturing unit. The Opposition blamed the ruling  establishment for  the failure to retain it with the Narendra Modi ruled Centre has  getting  caught in the cross-fire.

In September this year TATA Projects, a leading technologically led Indian EPC company, announced its collaboration with Micron Technology in a groundbreaking venture to construct an advanced semiconductor assembly and test plant in Sanand, Gujarat. The contract awarded to TATA Projects solidifies the company’s proficiency in large-scale, sustainable infrastructure development in the Indian manufacturing landscape.

 The project spans an expansive 93 acres of land and is the largest investment under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). The construction of Phase 1 will include a 500,000 square feet cleanroom space, scheduled to be operational by late 2024.

 

There have also been murmurs in the neighbourhood over Gujarat’s  hi-tec GIFT city in Gandhinagar being designed to  create a rival financial hub to Mumbai. These have been growing ever since  Maharashtra saw  a change in government with  fingers being pointed Delhi wards. The build-up is foreseen as polls near in Maharashtra.

 This syndicated news column was published in the respective newspapers edition dated  November 7, 2023 respectively, whose links are given below:-

https://epaper.lokmat.com/lokmattimes/main-editions/Nagpur%20Main/2023-11-07/6

https://odishapostepaper.com/edition/4701/orissapost/page/9

 

 

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