Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that 79 percent of the investment had been made in Industrial areas of Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh in the State. He was speaking on the occasion of First BBNIA Ridhi Environment Initiative Awards – 2012 ceremony organised by Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Industries Association (BBNIA), at Kishanpura, in Nalagarh sub-division of district Solan today after dedicating e-Learning Project launched by Proctor and Gamble, under Corporate responsibilities, at GSSS Lodimajra. He also laid foundation stone of Himalaya Nature Care Society at Lodimajra Industrial area, estimated to cost Rs. 1.63 crore.
Chief Minister said that Rs. 1701 crore worth of finished goods were exported to various countries from BBN Industrial areas in 2011-12 thereby making Himachal Pradesh a prominent industrial investment destination in the country. He said that industrial investment worth Rs. 12,560 crores had been made in medium and small industrial sector and over 65 thousand Himachali provided employment during last four years.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State had Food Processing as its thrust area and State Government would be exploring possibilities in motivating entrepreneurs to set up fruit based industrial units. He said that sale of off-season vegetable had compensated the short fall of Rs. 1300 crore in apple sector by increasing its turnover to Rs. 2250 crore, which was record in itself. He said that fruit processing industry was a challenge to the entrepreneurs and they needed to convert into opportunities. He said that he had raised the demand of stopping import of apple to India keeping in view the interests of apple growers of the State. He underlined the need for large scale production of fruit based value added products.
Chief Minister said that Swan River Channelization in district Una was a long cherished dream which had been realized as two phases of the same had successfully been completed and over 20 thousand hectares of land reclaimed in the district. He said that 73 tributaries in the district had also been proposed for channelization by spending Rs. 600 crore. He said that One Rank One Pension was raised by him in the Parliament while he was Member of the Parliament.
Prof. Dhumal congratulated Award Winners for their achievements and hoped they would emerge and act as Green Ambassadors and come forward for environment conservation so as to make Himachal Pradesh a role model in environment sector.
Chief Minister gave away First Prize to Colgate, Second to TVS Motors and Third to Hindustan Lever Limited in Large Category, in Medium Category, First Prize went to Pidilite Industries and Second to Promed Exports Private Limited. In Small Category, First Prize was won by Timex Limited. Innovation in Waste Reduction Award was presented again to Timex Limited.
Chief Minister was presented a draft of Rs. five lakh collected as fee from the applicants for the Awards as contribution towards Environment Fund of the State.
Arun Rawat, President of BBNIA, welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for giving away prizes for environment which were first BBNIA Ridhi Environment Initiative Awards-2012. He congratulated CM for making efforts to make Himachal Pradesh First Carbon Neutral State of the country. He detailed initiatives taken on environment protection front. He said that hazardous waste management plant had been constructed at a cost of Rs. 15 crore, green belt developed at a cost of Rs. 55 crore. He said that Industries would initiate plantations alongside the road in entire industrial area. He said that Green Awards aimed at motivating people to protect environment. Shri B.B.Nayyar, Secretary General of BBNIA proposed vote of thanks.
Sanjay Khurana, of BBNIA welcomed the Chief Minister to the Award presentation ceremony. Vinod Chandel, Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Gobind Sharma, MLAs, S. Roy, Chief Secretary, Ritu Sethi, Secretary General, State Child Welfare Council, Meera Mohanty, DC, Gurdev Sharma, SP, Sanjay Sood, Member Secretary, HP State Pollution Control Board, H.R. Sharma, CEO, BBNDA, Dr. Rajender Chauhan, Industrial Advisor, other senior officers and prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.
