Shimla: In a review meeting of industrial department, Cabinet Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the State Government was contemplating three new industrial areas in the State which would give fillip to industrial development in the State, besides, an investor friendly industrial policy to give further boost to industrial development.
Agnihotri said that the State has an immense potential industrial based on locally available raw material and those related to information technology. He said that the conducive and pollution free atmosphere is also suited for textile based industries. He said that the State Government was also mooting an idea to designate a Liaison Officer with the upcoming industrial unit with investment more than Rs. 50 crore. He said that this would facilitate the investors in getting clearances from different departments at the earliest.
Industries Minister said that the State Government would also establish Land Bank in the State so as to make land available to the industrialists at the earliest. He stressed upon better coordination between different departments such as Revenue, State Electricity Board, State Pollution Control Board and Irrigation and Public Health, Forest Departments for expeditious clearances from the concerned department. He said that the officers of the department should adopt a policy of ‘Investment through Invitation’ for attracting industrial investment in the State. He said that the investors should get feeling of friendly and congenial atmosphere in the State so that they could be motivated to invest in a big way.
Agnihotri said that Detailed Project Reports (DPR) regarding development of infrastructure in industrial areas should be prepared expeditiously so that the same could be finalized at the earliest. He said that the officers of the department should adopt pro-active approach for promoting ‘Brand Himachal’ for investment and for this they should regularly organize investors meet in their respective areas. He said that a high level delegation of the department would also visit Ludhiana in Punjab to have discussions with Woollen industrialists so that they could be persuade to invest in the State.
While stressing the need for simplifying the procedure regarding setting up of industrial units in the State, Agnihotri said that this would help the investors by saving them from existing cumbersome procedure. He said that while selecting land for industrial purpose preference should be given for barren government land. He said that special emphasis should be laid on meeting up the target of 70 percent employment to the youth of Himachal Pradesh. He said that the Government would also give special emphasis on pollution free and employment generating industries in the State.
He said that during his recent meeting with the Union Commerce Minister at New Delhi, he had agreed in-principle to sanction Rs. 95 crores under the Assistance to States for Infrastructural Development of Exports (ASIDE) Scheme for which State Government was asked to submit detailed Project Reports. He said that the Union Minister also assured to consider proposals under Industrial Infrastructure Up-gradation Scheme (IIUS) for strengthening Industrial Infrastructure in the State.
Agnihotri asked the officers of the department to fix at least a day in a week for redressal of grievances of the industrialists. He said that the department should fix annual targets and the same would be reviewed periodically in order to bring efficiency in the department.
Dr. P.C. Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries said that the first and fore most task before the department was to ensure steps to check exodus of industries from the State in wake of withdrawal of industrial package. He said that for this sound infrastructure and investor friendly policy could act as a major attraction for the industrialists.
Mohan Chauhan, Director, Industries while welcoming the Industries Minister detailed out various activities of the department. He said that department would ensure efficient and transparent functioning. Dr. Rajender Chauhan, Senior Advisor, Industries presented vote of thanks. A. Shainamole, Additional Controller Stores, Suresh Sharma, Joint Director, Industries, General Managers and other senior officers of the department attended the meeting.
Later, the office bearers of Industries Officers Association led by Sunita Kapta, President held meeting with the Industries Minister and apprised him about the various demands. The Minister assured them that their demands would be considered sympathetically at the earliest.
