IMT project dominates poll campaign in Mahendragarh

Unemployment has emerged as one of the major issues in the Mahendragarh constituency in the assembly elections due to the absence of industries here. Locals were confident about the generation of employment avenues when an ambitious project ‘Industrial Modern Township (IMT)’ was announced in Khudana village here in 2014 but the project is yet to take off even after a decade.

Interestingly, the then Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, had laid the foundation stone of the IMT project in 2019. The non-execution of the project has given ammunition to the Congress to corner the the BJP in the election over the issue. The Congress candidate and outgoing MLA Rao Dan Singh is flagging the issue in his poll meeting prominently and blaming the BJP for its non-execution. He has also announced that the IMT will be established on priority if the Congress comes to power. Interestingly, Rao is getting the people’s support over the issue as people are a harassed lot due to the rising unemployment here.

“Our youngsters have to go to either Gurugram, Rewari or other distant places in search of jobs after completing professional/ technical courses as no major industry is available in Mahendragarh district, hence the IMT is imperative for the region not only for generating employment opportunities but also for ensuring development. We are flagging the IMT issue before the candidates coming to us to seek vote,” said Mukesh, a youth in Mahendragarh.

As per sources, former Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma had made efforts to execute the project but could not succeed. Teams of the HSIIDC from Chandigarh visited the project site multiple times in the past five years and also invited expressions of interest to set up the industries but no industry turned up here due to poor road connectivity to Delhi. Since then, the project is lying in the cold storage but the Congress has revived people’s hope by promising that it would execute the IMT project on priority.

“It is my dream project but could not be executed due to a change of government in the state in 2014. I am determined to set up the IMT in Khudana to bring Mahendragarh on the map of developed cities,” said Rao Dan Singh.

He claimed the then CM Bhupinder Hooda had announced the IMT project in 2014 but the BJP government stalled it for next five years without any reason.

Khattar laid stone of project in 2019

• The then Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, had laid the foundation stone of the IMT project in 2019 and promised the people that it would be materialised at the earliest.
• He announced that a sum of ~200 crore would be spent on it to develop basic infrastructure but the promise still remains fulfilled.
• The Khudana gram panchayat has already given 1,043 acres for the project.