Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, while addressing Interaction meet with Industries Association of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt said that the decision taken in a Single Window Meeting by the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for granting clearances to the industrialists would stand as final and no department would thereafter raise objection which hampers the smooth process of wooing the investors in the State.
Agnihotri ensured to provide all the clearances within a 90 day period so that an environment could be created in the State for Industrialists to do the business with ease.
He said that the State Government has power tariff rates far less than the other States like Gujarat (where it was Rs 7.40 per unit) and the Government had decided to keep the same rates as existing till next four years. For promotion of the industrial investment in the State, a ‘Single Window Mobile Road Show’ would be conducted throughout the Country to woo the investors and inviting entrepreneurs and big business houses in the State. “May it be the question of setting up satellite towns, may it be Industrial sector or Tourism or some other sector, the investors will be given all the basic required facilities to set up their units in the State” remarked the minister.
The Vardhman group has shown keen interest to invest in Rs 500 crore industrial unit in the State and similarly the Gas Authority of India has shown its willingness to lay gas line for Baddi-Barotiwala as similar to the project they have undertaken in Tahliwal in Una district, said he. Besides, L’Oreal group was keen to invest in the State too.
He said that the Budget announcements for promotion of Industries in the State were being fulfilled on priority and Industrial Advisory Council would soon be constituted.
To get rid of the pimps and middlemen in the process of setting up the industry in the State or acquiring the land thereof, the department of Industries would completely be on-line henceforth. “ If any such person within the Government or outside lures some entrepreneurs or misguides him or tries to give or take bribe of any kind, it becomes the duty to inform the Chief Ministers office or Industries Department at once and the Government will make sure that such middlemen goes behind the bars” said Sh Agnihotri.
The Government since from very first day of its formation was committed for zero-tolerance towards corruption and we want that anybody from out of the State who wants to invest does not carry negative impression of the State as we are endeavoured to develop Himachal Pradesh as Industrial Hub of the North India and has been successful in creating a favourable environment for investors, said he.
He said that ‘Land Banks’ were being created in the State and all the Deputy commissioners had been directed to identify the land for setting up industries which will not only create employment generation but would also increase the economic status of the people of the State.
He said that soon a regulation would be passed wherein the norms for land to be given to the industrialists would be relaxed and it may be taken up in the coming monsoon session.
He thanked Dr Swati and Ajay Piramal of Piramal Enterprise Ltd for donating Dead Body Van for Shimla and also expressed his gratitude for one Industrial House for donating a Prison Van for Dharamsala.
