CM, Ambani discuss investments in telecom, data, retail, farming

Wednesday, 01/11/2017

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=182563&boxid=59975&uid=&dat=2017-11-01

Mumbai/Chandigarh : Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani have agreed to strengthen cooperation across various sectors, including telecom and data networks, as well as retail, besides boosting agricultural productivity, food processing industry and manufacturing facilities in the state.

The Chief Minister met Ambani soon after his arrival in Mumbai, where he is scheduled to address CII’s ‘Invest North’ meeting on Wednesday. The two had a one-to-one meeting, followed by delegation level talks, during which RIL made a detailed presentation on Jio telecom service, which it is seeking to expand in Punjab.

An official spokesperson said later that the meeting focused on augmenting RIL’s interests in Punjab, under the leadership of Captain Amarinder, who is keen to embark on sweeping transformational reforms to revive the state’s industry and economy. The Chief Minister told Ambani that his support would go a long way in providing the early impetus needed for this change.

Agreeing with the Chief Minister that data was the future of mankind, Ambani suggested setting up a dedicated team in Chandigarh to realise Captain Amarinder’s vision of deploying technology to generate employment. Data is the new currency, said the RIL chairman, adding that the new development model needed to be centred around data.

Captain Amarinder identified upgradation of telecom infrastructure, in terms of both connectivity and broadband, as a key area in which Punjab was exploring opportunities. His government would be happy to provide the requisite infrastructure for setting up towers and strengthening the telecom sector, said the Chief Minister.

Pointing out that data had emerged as the new oil for the world, the Chief Minister said his government was keen to become a part of this “Fourth Industrial Revolution” and, to this end, was committed to fulfilling its promise of providing a free smart phone to youth in the age group of 18 to 35, together with free talk time/data for one year. The rock bottom price in the telecom sector, consequent to the entry of Jio, makes this imminently possible for Punjab, he added.

Captain Amarinder also expressed the hope that with its vast experience, RIL would be able to support the state in building a bouquet of offerings that can be built around the availability of high-speed data, as the state-of-the-art digital connectivity would open many vistas for providing value added services to Punjab. Services such as digital education, agricultural extension services, governance & administration, tele-medicine, e-retail and GST compliance, along with entertainment, could help transform the state and its people as well as its agrarian economy to prepare them to face the challenges of a digital future, he added.

Amarinder flays decision to use Army for constructing bridges

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday criticised the Central government’s decision to rope in the Indian Army for rebuilding the Elphinstone bridge in Mumbai, terming it as ‘deplorable’ and ‘an admission of the failure’ of the government and the Indian Railways.

The Army’s job is to train for war and protect the country’s borders, not to build bridges and clean the roads, said Singh, who has served the Army as a Captain before joining politics.

Citing reports that the Army’s services will be utilized in building a new bridge at Elphinstone station and at two other suburban train stations in Mumbai, he termed the move as ‘atrocious,’ and said the Central and state governments should put their own resources at the disposal of the Railways if the situation was so urgent and serious.

“Whatever the urgency of the situation, it does not merit such a decision, which would have adverse long-term implications as it could encourage the civilian authorities to seek Army help for major civilian works every time they find themselves ill-equipped to handle an infrastructural or other challenge,” he said in a statement.

He urged Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to refrain from diverting critical defence resources of the country to civilian works, saying it would set a bad precedent.

Singh said Sitharaman was making the same mistake that Major General B M Kaul, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of ‘Red Eagles’ 4th Division, had made before the 1962 war with China.