*Tata exit exposes AP’s investment failure*

Tadepalli, August 3: YSRCP MLC Mondithoka Arun Kumar said Tata Power’s decision to shift its proposed Rs. 6,675-crore investment from Andhra Pradesh to Odisha clearly exposes the failure of the coalition government. He said the government’s claim of “speed of doing business” has been replaced by a “cash for doing business” culture, where even a major company cannot survive unless money is paid.

Arun Kumar said the government has been claiming that investments worth Rs. 23 lakh crore and 20 lakh jobs were secured in two years, while figures released by the Union government present a completely different picture. Of ten projects proposed, only two were completed. Actual investments received by the state during the period stood at only around Rs. 6,500 crore, generating just 22,167 jobs.

He said Tata Power, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Azad India Mobility, GINFRA and Jupiter Renewables were among the companies that had withdrawn their proposals or left Andhra Pradesh. Investors are now more worried about the conditions they may face in the state than about the size of their proposed investments. Investments worth nearly Rs. 12,890 crore have moved out, and the government must explain this loss to the public.

Arun Kumar demanded the constitution of an independent committee to examine why industries are leaving Andhra Pradesh. He also questioned why state GST collections had declined if the government’s claims of rapid industrial growth, investment and employment were true.

He said Amara Raja Batteries moved out because of pollution regulations and court directions, but the issue was being politically distorted. The government must stop relying on publicity and disclose complete, transparent details of investments, project implementation, jobs created, incentives extended and companies that withdrew. Andhra Pradesh needs credibility, investor confidence and accountable governance, not inflated investment announcements.