2 billion Euro Solar Panel project moved away from Nagpur
In a major embarrassment for the supporters of Vavasi Group which had planed whopping Rs 50,000 crore investment in Nagpur, Industries Minister Narayan Rane on Monday categorically stated that no concrete proposal was ever received from the Group about its mind-boggling investment at Nagpur.
Leader of Opposition Ramdas Kadam blamed the Democratic Front Government for neglecting proposal of Vavasi Group and forcing the Group divert its investment of Rs 50,000 crore to Rajasthan. The issue figured during the Question Hour. Making some plain speaking, Rane stated, during early talks, Vavasi Group was offered land at Butibori, but the Group demanded 5000 acres for its Renewable Energy Park at the five star Butibori Industrial Estate to manufacture silicon solar panels and other apparatus. Besides, it had also claimed that Al-Bukhari would invest Euro 6 billion in the process of setting up mono crystalline growing facility having a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes on 400 hectare land. Since this much land was not available with MIDC, alternate land was offered, but the company never submitted its concrete proposal for the alternate land or complete project details.
The promoter of Vavasi Group, Farid Arifuddin had claimed that he had roped in Al-Bukhari, a Malaysian group, which claimed to have expertise in developing airports as a strategic partner in developing the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for solar energy. Besides Farid had also promised to bring Russian jet manufacturer Sukhoi Company with a whopping investment of Euro 2 billion (Rs 13,600 crore) for manufacturing about 25 to 50 super jets initially and later 100 aircraft at full capacity. The company had also agreed to construct a world-class Airport along with rehabilitation of project affected person. However, the MADC which is handling the MIHAN-SEZ, the project was nothing but a figment of imagination and MADC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director R C Sinha had turned down such a worthless venture. The Group had demanded 700 acre land at negotiated price, but steadfastly refused to disclose planned use of such a huge land. When the Group was asked to make an application and submit documents explaining source of finance, copy of agreement with Sukhoi, expertise in solar energy, experience in construction of airport, it simply vanished into thin air, causing acute embarrassment to its vocal supporters. The Vavasi Group Chief later surfaced before the Nagpur media, a month before the general election and claimed that he had shifted the project to Rajasthan. But on Monday, Industries Minister Narayan Rane made the record straight, by refuting the tall claims made by supporters of this incredible venture.
Nagpur Property 