Chandigarh, Nov 2: Rejecting claims by the Opposition that Maruti is running away from Haryana to Gujarat, the Haryana government has clarified that the company proposed to invest Rs 3,700 crore in the state in the next two years.
“Maruti will be investing Rs 2,000 crore in a plant that is plant C in Manesar ... besides, the company proposed to invest Rs 1,700 crore in an international Research and Development (R and D) testing centre at Industrial Model Township (IMT) at Rohtak in the next two years,” Haryana Industries and Commerce and PWD (B and R) Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here.
He said that Maruti had been allotted 600 acres of land at IMT Rohtak by the state government for setting up what he claimed as the “biggest” R&D centre in Asia. Besides, Maruti has also taken 100 acres of land at IMT Rohtak for setting up ancillary units for automobiles. He said that Maruti had set up three new factories - factory A, factory B and factory C - since the Congress government came in Haryana in 2005.
“The total investment made by Maruti since 2005 to till date is Rs 6,500 crore...besides another investment to the tune of Rs 500 crore has been made in Suzuki Power Terrain Ltd at Manesar by the company,” he said. Surjewala said that it was “incorrect and baseless” that Maruti Udyog Limited is closing its shop in Haryana and shifting its base to Gujarat.
He, however, said each company is free to choose its future plan and Haryana government never tries to control any company.
He said that the Maruti's investment in Haryana was to the tune of Rs 1000 crore each year in last seven years. He said that it was during the INLD's regime between 1999 to 2005 that several companies, including Surya Roshni, Atlas shifted from Haryana.
“The Congress government will protect the workers right in Haryana,” he said charging the opposition with having instigated workers at the Maruti plant in the state. He said that barring on three occasions there had been no industrial unrest in Haryana in the past seven years. The three industrial unrests were in Honda and two strikes by workers in Maruti.
He said that the Haryana government had no objection to Maruti's proposal to set up a plant in Gujarat for export market near a port.
“Maruti is the biggest investor in Haryana,” he said adding that two Japanese companies proposed to set up their units in Haryana.
Mitusi and Panasonic proposed to set up a logistic hub and R and D facility respectively at Jhajjar. “If Maruti want to set up a plant in Gujarat its not deterrent for growth in Haryana,” he said. Besides, Tata Nano too had evinced interest to set up plant in Haryana, he said.
Bangalore's IT and IT enabled industries too have evinced interest in Haryana, he said adding that many small industrial units from Pune in Maharashtra are keen to come to Haryana.
