Mahana dials investors in run-up to ground breaking ceremony

With a fortnight to go for the ground breaking ceremony in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of 64 projects worth Rs 55,000 crore on July 29, the industrial development department is abuzz with activity these days.

The amount of investment that the BJP government has been able to draw in two years is more than what the previous governments could do in 15 years, he claims.(Sunil Ghosh / HT Photo)

With a fortnight to go for the ground breaking ceremony in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of 64 projects worth Rs 55,000 crore on July 29, the industrial development department is abuzz with activity these days.

Industrial development minister Satish Mahana is busy contacting on phone those investors who had signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the state government during the UP Investors Summit in Lucknow in February.

Mahana says: “I have a list of the owners and officers of the 64 companies with their telephone number who have signed MoUs with the state government.”

He directs his staff to ring up an official of ACC, which has submitted a proposal to set up a cement plant in Amethi district.

When the officer comes on the line, Mahana asks him if the allotment of land has been completed.

He tells the ACC official that the state government officers have been directed to expedite land allotment. “If there is any hiccup, feel free to contact me,” he adds.

Next, he calls Gautam Kanodia of the Kanodia Group to know if a no objection certificate has been issued by the administration. When the reply is affirmative, he invites Kanodia to attend the ground breaking ceremony.

“I will talk to all the investors in the run-up to the ground breaking ceremony,” he says and adds chief minister Yogi Adityanath will also talk to the investors to get their feedback about the facilities provided by the state government to launch projects.

“It’s a prestigious project for the state government. We have named it ‘Rising UP Powering New India’,” Mahana says.

His staff tells him the owner of Intex, which has submitted a proposal to set up a project in Noida, is on the line.

Mahana asks him if he is facing problems in setting up the unit. The company owner tells him production work will start after three months as construction work is in progress now.

“I have talked to the owner of Telengana Electric Works and WTC who are investing in the IT and electric sector. DCM has signed an MoU for setting up sugar industry, Dharampal Prempal Company has signed MoU for investment in horticulture sector,” he says.

The amount of investment that the BJP government has been able to draw in two years is more than what the previous governments could do in 15 years, he claims.

Later, Mahana reviewed preparation for the ground breaking ceremony in a meeting with officers.

He told officers to contact businessmen and give clearances to projects, the foundation of which will be laid during the PM’s visit.

Reliance Group chairman Mukesh Ambani, Infosys non-executive chairman Nandan Nilekani, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrashekharan and CII chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal are likely to attend the programme. Around 1500 businessmen, entrepreneurs and officers were invited to attend the programme, Mahana said.

Union commerce and industries minister, Suresh Prabhu, defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman and electronic and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will also attend the ground breaking ceremony.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Rajesh Kumar Singh,Hindustan Times,Lucknow / July 16th, 2018

Tryst with art and faith from Varanasi

Visitors at the exhibition at Subhadra Art Gallery in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar:

An ongoing art exhibition at Subhadra gallery here attempting to connect art and spirituality is attracting a number of art enthusiasts.

Titled, The Pilgrim, the exhibition features artworks by 20 artists from Varanasi.

Around 80 paintings are on display. A number of artworks from the artists of the state have also been put up.

P. Pranam Singh, professor of painting at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, said: “Such exhibitions definitely attract more crowds as well as provides an opportunity to the artists to interact with art lovers.”

Artist Sunil Viswakarma from Banaras stressed on the visual importance of ancient Indian culture through his paintings.

Many of the paintings focus on nature and its connection with spirituality. Through deep colours, the paintings bring to life the full blooms flanked by majestic trees and vines.

The contemporary paintings by Sanjay Singh from Varanasi caught the eyes of many that have depicted modern life through brushstrokes

A painting on display at the exhibition. (Ashwinee Pati)

Snehalata’s painting on a socio-eco theme was highly appreciated both by art critics and guests present.

Former chief administrative officer of the Puri Jagannath temple and art connoisseur Pradip Kumar Jena, who inaugurated the festival, said: “The beautiful amalgamation of diverse paintings has really given the show a larger audience.”

Artists such as Sunil Kuswah, Pankaj Verma, Asha Prakash, Sarda Singh, Nidhi Tripathi, Vishka, Shradha Chaturvedi, Rahul Singh, Ajay Upasani, Satyendra Baoni, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Baldev Maharatha, Raghunath Sahoo, Binodini Behera, Jaya Jena, Tuhina Joshi, Sanjay Ketan, Arun Pallur, Suresh Dhal and Manas Ranjan Jena were present on the occasion.

Gallery founder Rabi Rath said: “Cultivating the arts as a spiritual practice is a path to freeing our imagination and developing valuable skills for vital living in the world. The exhibition was an attempt of that.”

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph,Calcutta,India / Home> Odisha / by Anwesha Ambaly / June 19th, 2018