‘Change ant-paced, need a revolution’: Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal

Edited excerpts:

You have announced `1 lakh crore investment in the state, what are the plans?

First of all, we make 1 million tonnes of Zinc and will now make 2 million tonnes of it; we will make 300,000 barrels of oil in Cairn; and we will create 10,000 Megawatts of solar (energy). Put together, there will be `1 lakh crore investment. And I am very focused on silver too and want to double its capacity too. Today we are making 800 tonnes of silver and want to make it to 1,600 tonnes.

We wish that all that is produced is consumed in Rajasthan itself and more industries are set up. We believe that 500 industries can be set up for the raw materials we produce. And we are trying to triple the oil and gas production.

We have also announced a Zinc Park which is not-for-profit. If someone is looking for a job, then you should invest in the industry. There is an opportunity here.

What are the areas in Rajasthan which you think have a lot of potential?

Mainly what’s below the ground, the minerals, oil and gas, they have not been explored. It can feed the whole of India. The whole world has progressed due to gold and silver. What Hindustan Zinc has done, Hindustan Copper can also do. But according to me, the government companies cannot do it. You will have to take a view.

When Bhajan Lal became the CM last year, you said that the government machinery needs to be completely overhauled and that it should be based on certain principles spoken by the Prime Minister. What was your experience that led you to say this?

I am not saying this. The whole world is saying this. The Prime Minister is also saying this… he himself gave a statement on red-tapism a few days ago. Our people are very able. But the time has come for self-certification. Like for income tax and sales tax, we deposit what we think is due, and the assessment happens later. It should be the same in every work.

If you have to set up a factory, you should not have to go and get permission. You already know that you have to follow these norms. You set it according to those norms and file its return. If the government has any objection, it will come and talk. (The government can) certify all the rules and regulations. The biggest thing is to get land. If you want to set up an industry, it takes time to get land even for a small industry. How to get land? Is it possible to get land digitally? With these things, the industry will move forward.

You came to Rajasthan in 2016 during the Resurgent Rajasthan investment summit too, when you said that there is a need for quick clearances, simplified policies and minimum governance. We are in 2024, have you seen any difference in Rajasthan and in the country?

Fark toh hua hai, par who chinti ki chaal se hua hai (There has been a difference, but with the pace of an ant). There is indeed a difference, but there should be a revolution, the trust should be built; and the government wants to do it too. If it is done vigorously, the work will move forward.

You came to the 2022 investment summit too and some MoUs were signed then, such as for Nand Ghars. What’s the progress on those MoUs?

We have 3,600 Nand Ghars in Rajasthan. We are giving back to society. We have promised to build 25,000 more Nand Ghars in two years. I have one wish that no child should suffer from malnutrition in Rajasthan. Everyone should get food and get access to education, and that all the women should get at least `1,000-2,000 per month. As soon as the girls get money, things become different for them and their confidence level increases. That’s what we are working on and it is happening too.

There have been three investment summits in Rajasthan in the last 8 years, with MoUs worth at least `35 lakh crore being signed in the present one. However, in the past two summits, we have seen only a small percentage of these MoUs being implemented.

How can the government change this?

I can talk about myself; we fulfil the promises we make. We have an attachment with Rajasthan and I am confident that — just like Punjab which provides food to the entire country — Rajasthan can provide us with electricity, energy security and minerals in the same manner. For this, exploration is needed. The more exploration we do, the more Rajasthan will respond.

I have been involved in this for the last 20-25 years and telling people that we have natural resources. Since foreigners wanted to make India a market, they said that we have nothing and that it is not good to make minerals. We have cleared both the issues.

Today, the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister both have said that natural resources are very important.

Exploration will lead to the development of our country. It will have a big impact.

Bhajan Lal Sharma has been a CM for one year. There was initially an apprehension since he was a first time MLA. How has your experience been working with him?

From what I understand, there couldn’t have been anything better because he is very honest and takes all of Rajasthan together. He is connected to the ground.

He has seen poverty, in his family, in society… He is not high flying. And he doesn’t see anything else other than work. So, such people will only take Rajasthan forward. It is true that he doesn’t have experience but when a person sits down, he not only gets experience but also moves forward.