Skewed big ticket investment in district

For development of industries other than MPCB, MIDC has acquired and developed land in various regions of the district. In Pune, MIDC has set up industrial zones in Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Jejuri, Bigwan, Baramati,Chakan, Talegaon, Ranjangaon, Indapur and other regions.
Information available on MIDC website shows that availability of industrial sites and plots is minimal at the parks of Hinjewadi, Kharadi and Ranjangaon, while availability is there for plots of Baramati, Bigwan, Indapur, Daund and other areas.

In the last four years, 267 permissions were granted in Ranjangaon, Hinjewadi Chakan and Talegaon areas  and 93 of them were real estate projects. There were 147 for manufacturing/ automobile sectors while the rest were fir IT or ITES companies. Ranjangaon MIDC, in the last four years, has seen maximum investment with 48 companies getting consent to operate.

In the same time frame, 14 consent-to-operate orders were issued for industries in Daund, Indapur and Baramati, while 34 were issued for Pimpri-Chinchwad-based companies.

Anant Sardeshmukh, director-general of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), talking about the trend, said better infrastructure, connectivity and an established hub were reasons for industries gravitating to Chakan, Talegaon and Hinjewadi. “Chakan, Talegaon region are near Mumbai and have excellent connectivity. Chakan and other regions have managed to develop a proper ecosystem for the automobile hub,” he said.

Explaining who there were projects of comparatively less investment in Baramati and other areas, Sardeshmukh said lack of water availability, and being located away from the city posed hurdles.

“Real estate development has happened in and around Chakan, Talegaon, Hinjewadi and Ranjangaon areas,” he said. Proper roads, connectivity, police stations, water are some factors, which according him help attract industries.

Supriya Sule, Baramati MP, said Baramati and nearby areas face water shortage and a conscious decision was taken to stop land acquisition from MIDC. “Water for drinking and agriculture would have to be diverted in case more industrial activities are planned,” she said.