Bihar

• 03 Sep 2024

Mega Industry Players in Bihar

Why in News?

Recently, Bihar received Rs 12,000 crore in investment proposals between 2022 and 2024, a significant rise from the Rs 2,500 crore received between 2016 and 2022.

Key Points

• Investors: Major players like Britannia, PepsiCo, Tata Group, and Medanta are investing in the state.
• Sectoral Focus: Investments are primarily in textile, leather, food processing, and cement industries.
  • Key projects include Ambuja Cements' Rs 1,600-crore unit, Tata Group's Taj hotel, and Medanta's hospital.
  • The entry of private players has significantly improved healthcare, reducing the load on government hospitals.
  • Bihar's strength in food processing, supported by abundant raw materials, is recognised as a key area for future investment growth.
• Government Initiatives for Industry: The state has created a land bank of 5,000 acres and leased out 7,592 acres in the last two years.
  • New industrial areas are being developed in 31 districts, with SEZs (Special Economic Zones) planned in West Champaran and Buxar.
• Challenges: Despite progress, investors face issues with land availability, infrastructure, ease of doing business, and concerns about labor unrest.
  • The government emphasized the importance of enhancing single-window systems and extending government incentives.

Foundation Stone for Drinking Water Project

Why in News?

Recently, the Bihar government laid the foundation for a Rs 1,347 crore project to supply Sone river water for drinking in Aurangabad, Dehri, and Sasaram.

Key Points

• Additional Initiatives: Inaugurated and laid foundations for a state industrial training institute, tech labs, street lights, and Anganwadi centers in Dehri, Rohtas district.
  • Distributed a cheque of Rs 74.17 crore to 1,864 self-help groups under the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (BRLP), known as JEEVIKA.
• JEEViKA: Funded by the World Bank, it is a rural social and economic empowerment programme that comes under Bihar’s rural development department.

Sone River

• The Son River, also known as the Sone River, is a perennial river that flows through central India.
• The Son River is the 2^nd-largest southern (right bank) tributary of the Ganges after the Yamuna River.