Himachal demands extension of special industrial package

DHARAMSALA - Himachal Pradesh Tuesday once again said the special industrial package given to it by the central government be extended by 10 years till 2020.

Replying to queries during question hour, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the state government would take up the issue with the central government.

“We will urge the central government to extend the special industrial package to the hill state till 2020. This will ensure industrial stability in the state,” Dhumal informed the state assembly.

“The government would also bring a resolution in the assembly in this regard,” he added.

Himachal Pradesh was originally granted the industrial package for 10 years from 2003. However, this was later curtailed to March 2010.

“The objections (against the extension of the package) by our neighbouring states Punjab and Haryana are wrong. They fear more industrial units would migrate to us. We do not agree with their contention. Most pharmaceutical units that have set up their units here were from Goa and Maharashtra.”

Replying to the debate, Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor said he had even raised the issue at the state industries ministers’ conference in New Delhi Nov 17.

“It is quite surprising that states like Assam were claiming that grant of package to Himachal Pradesh has affected their industrial growth. The facts are otherwise,” Kapoor said.

“The latest survey (of the Secretariat for Industrial Assistance) reveals the state has been able to attract only 0.52 percent of the total investment in the industrial sector in the country since 1952. Around 99 percent of the total investment in the state is in small-scale units,” he said.