18 new industrial units to give 3,000 jobs

HimVani

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: Eighteen new industrial units with a proposed investment of Rs 581.71 crore have been given clearance by the State Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Committee (SWCMC).

The decision was taken at the 24th meeting of SWCMC held here last week, under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

These units would bring employment to about 3,000 people in the state. Total investment in the state in the past three years has been estimated to Rs 21,250 crore and employment potential estimated at 2,88,790.

Industrial proposals of upto Rs 10 crore would be considered under the medium enterprises while investments above Rs 10 crore would be brought under the large scale industries.

HimVani had earlier reported about the pathetic condition of roads in the new industrial townships like Kala Amb. While the Kala Amb roads may have to wait more for a while, the Pinjore-Baddi-Barotiwala roads will be widened further and improved upon by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). According to the Chief Minister, Rs 45 crore have already been sanctioned the central government for the same.

Also on the anvil are working women hostels in these industrial areas of Himachal. Singh said that private players were also being encouraged to construct residential accommodation for the skilled and unskilled workers in the industrial sector.

Himachal Pradesh is emerging as an industrial hub largely due to liberal and special concessions given by the Central Government for industries to be set up in the state. With a view to speed up industrialisation in the State and to woo indigenous and foreign investors incentives like 100 per cent excise and income tax rebate, besides 15 per cent capital subsidy would be made available to entrepreneurs till 2023. The government has also approved setting up of two special economic zones in Una and Kangra district at an estimated cost of Rs 5,047 crore.

Since the notification of special package for the State by the central government, 7,768 industrial investment proposals have been registered and approved in small, medium and large scale sectors in the State with an investment of over Rs 21,250 crore, and creating employment opportunities to over 2.88 lakh people. Moreover, an investment of Rs 5,000 crore has been envisaged in bio-technology in next five years.

Industrial development has shown better results in the periphery districts of Solan, Sirmour, Kangra and Una due to better facilities. About 60 per cent of the total and 95 per cent large and medium units are concentrated in these districts. Under the new industrial policy, other districts of the state like Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi and Shimla have been given priority.

(With inputs from: PR Deptt., HP Government)