Bhubaneswar, 13 September (H.S.): The Congress on Sunday questioned the outcome of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s five-day UAE visit, asking whether the trip was aimed at attracting investment or handing over Odisha’s natural resources to private companies.

Following the Chief Minister’s visit, the state government has claimed investment proposals worth Rs 2.43 lakh crore and the potential to generate more than six lakh jobs. While welcoming investment, the Congress said the government must clarify the terms and conditions attached to the proposed projects and the benefits that would accrue to Odisha.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhavan here, senior Congress leader and chairman of the RGPRA Sadasan, Sudarshan Das, described the government’s publicity surrounding the UAE visit as “a cruel deception”.

He said the issue had assumed greater significance in view of the IHC-Adani proposals discussed during the UAE visit. According to him, the 14 proposed projects, involving an estimated investment of around Rs 2.10 lakh crore, include iron ore processing, pelletisation, critical and rare earth minerals, coal-to-chemicals, petrochemicals, mineral trading and port-related projects.

Das said a Rs 5,000-crore Critical Minerals Park and Rare Earth Corridor and a Rs 25,000-crore iron ore processing chain were among the major components of the proposals.

“These proposals are directly linked to Odisha’s mineral resources. On one hand, the government is auctioning mineral blocks, while on the other, proposals are being received for large mineral-based projects. The government must clearly explain what kind of concessions will be provided in terms of mineral resources and mining leases and what Odisha stands to gain from these projects,” Das said.

He further alleged that the Rs 2.43 lakh crore figure announced in the UAE represented investment commitments and not actual investment. He urged the government to refrain from making exaggerated claims and instead disclose how many of the proposed projects would actually materialise and to what extent they would serve Odisha’s interests.

The Congress also questioned the state government’s claim of having secured investment proposals worth Rs 22.50 lakh crore so far. Das said the people of Odisha had the right to know the actual outcome of investment promotion efforts undertaken in Singapore, Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and other places.

The party reiterated its demand for a project-wise white paper on the Rs 22.50 lakh crore investment claim. Das said the demand had earlier been raised by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das.

“Odisha needs investment, but investment cannot mean merely extracting minerals. Value addition, technology transfer, sustainable employment and long-term benefits for the state must be ensured. The government should also make it clear what impact these projects would have on Odisha’s natural environment,” Das said.

“Odisha welcomes investment, but the state’s natural resources cannot be sold at the cost of the interests of its people and future generations,” he added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda