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Mancheswar Industrial Estate yet to become an industrial hub

BHUBANESWAR: When planners carved out a vast patch of land on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar for setting up of Mancheswar Industrial Estate (MIE), they thought it would be a hub of small-scale industries. But things have gone the other way.

After two decades, small hotels, PCO booths, stationery shop, godowns and weigh bridge appeared to be recognised as ‘new form’ of industry while as many as 64 units were still under implementation.

A status report received from Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (IDCO) under Right To Information Act by a citizens’ association said about 137 different industries were functioning in the zone, of which more than 20 were hotels, lodging and boarding, garage, PCO booth, stationery shops and godowns.

It was yet unclear whether 64 industries, which were under implementation, would ever be implemented or would carry the ‘under implementation’ tag forever. As per the information sheet, fate of 35 sheds or plots are not clear as to why those are lying unused.

When MIE was conceived, it was situated two to three kms away from the capital city. With Bhubaneswar witnessing unprecedented growth in recent years, the industrial zone has virtually found itself in the middle of the city. Its land prices have now gone through the roof.

Through status report provided by IDCO said several industries were functioning in the zone, in reality it was ‘eyewash’.

Several persons are operating industries at a low scale on the allotted land in their desperate attempts to keep the valuable land patches under their possession.

"Was the industrial estate set up for stationery shop, STD booth and garages? Why more than one plot has been allotted to one person or farm? The Government has failed to achieve basic objective behind the setting up of MIE,” Citizens’ Apex Association President (CAA) N. K. Panda said. The matter should be inquired into by the vigilance department, he demanded

Mr. Panda, who is former chief secretary of the State, suggested a new industrial estate could be created about 25 km from the city boundary and make fresh development plans for MIE.

Although MIE is fast losing its character, IDCO is reportedly preparing to ‘handover’ 35 vacant plots to ‘influential persons’.

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