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He attacked the government for its faulty industrial policy and for the slow progress in the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP). He described the government’s industrial policy as a “policy for industrialists” and not one that benefits industry as such.
“The industrial policy of a state is the same for all, but in Gujarat, there are double standards. One set of policy is for favourite industrialists and there is another for others,” he said, citing the example of Tata Motors.
He said Tata was given an ultra soft loan of Rs 9,750 crore which is 330 per cent of the company’s investment of Rs 2,900 crore in the first phase. He said Tata was also exempted from providing employment to the locals. “If such a package had been given to the diamond or any other industry, many people would have got jobs,” he said.
Gohil said the Governor’s address reflected the government’s policies, but unfortunately did not reflect any concern for the problems affecting the people.
On the financial position of the state, Gohil said it was deteriorating fast with the cumulative debt touching Rs 83,212 crore as on December 31, 2008. The public debt rose by Rs 5,228 crore in 2006-07 and by Rs 6,716 crore in 2007-08, he said, adding that this happened despite the highest incidence of Value Added Tax (VAT) in Gujarat. Commenting on investments, Gohil said the government was spending billions on the publicity of the global investors' summits, but against the announcement of 76 MoUs with an investment promise of Rs 66,068 crore, there was an investment of Rs 27,799 crore only till December 2008. He said the Narmada dam had reached a height of 121.92 metres, but water was not available because the minor and sub minor canal network was not completed even though it did not require any permission from any authority. "It is shocking that almost all work on these canal systems was completed before the tenure of the present government. The work on 13,460 km of minor canals and 38,024 km sub-minor canals is pending while the CM spent Rs 76 lakh on travel by chopper in the current year," he said. Gohil said the CAG report exposed many holes in the government's functioning with the Sujalam Sufalam project being one of them. Quoting from the CAG report, he said that awarding of 102 contracts amounting to Rs 396 crore while ignoring the decision to award one contract was an example of rampant corruption. On pension to widows, he said the government did not accept income certificate issued by MLAs saying only a mamlatdar could issue such certificate. But “when a mamlatdar is approached for certificate, he cannot dare to issue one, as he is warned of losing his job if he issues it,” Gohil said.
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