Maharashtra-Gujarat Spar Over Gems And Jewellery
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.
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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