Despite political stalwarts such as former chief ministers late Shankarrao Chavan, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan and Shivajirao Nilangekar-Patil, among other leaders, having their roots in Marathwada, the region has lagged behind in industrial development. All such major activities are limited to Aurangabad and Jalna.
Deshmukh was from Latur, Shankarrao Chavan from Nanded, Mr Nilangekar-Patil from Latur and Ashok Chavan from Nanded. Beside this, late Sunderrao Solakhe from Beed had served as deputy CM. Also, Deshmukh, Rajendra Darda from Aurangabad and Ashok Chavan held the industries department portfolio.
According to Ashish Garde, president of the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture, these leaders tried to bring industries in the region, but all of them got centralised in Aurangabad only. “Though Jalna chose the independent way for industrial development, other parts of the region shied away from it,” he said.
Shankarrao Chavan tried to bring the CEAT tyre plant to Nanded, his native district, when he was chief minister. Beyond that, there was no attempt made, said Ganesh Tulshi, an industrialist from Aurangabad. He further added that it is only now in recent years that industrial giants like Videocon, Skoda and Bajaj have set up shop in his city.
“There are four major MIDCs in the vicinity at Valunj, Chikhalthana, Paithan and Shendra-Bidkin. Many factories set up shop here. Some took land and did nothing, especially in Chikhalthana MIDC. Later on, these lands were converted into residential zones for construction of houses,” added Mr Tulshi.
Kalyan Dale, a Congress leader from Jalna, said once the city was called the ‘seed capital’, as most seed firms had set up manufacturing units there. However, this industry is on its last legs due to drought and water crises since last three-four consecutive years. “Seed industries are unable to get agricultural land to experiment on their products as most farmers either shifted other cities for employment while those that are here have been unable to cultivate any crop in the absence of water,” said Mr Dale, who brings all rural local employers across the state under one umbrella.
Governor C, Vidyasagar Rao, in his directives to the state, has recommended the allocation of Rs 21.53 crore (5.33 per cent) to Marathwada from the allocation in the budget for sectors other than irrigation.
Also, the Vijay Kelkar committee, which was appointed to discover a solution for balanced regional development, had also recommended that though water is the main challenge before Marathwada, it would not be the only solution for the development of the region. Road and railway connectivity with other part of the state and with other states would help to bring an industrial processing unit in the region, it said.
