Himachal to set up 10 new industrial estates

SHIMLA - The Himachal Pradesh government would soon establish 10 new industrial estates across the state to promote industrialisation, Industry Minister Kishan Kapoor said Saturday.

“All the upcoming industrial areas would be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure with an outlay of Rs.3,000 crore,” Kapoor said while speaking at the India International Trade Fair - 2010 in New Delhi.

He said the process is under way to provide 5,000 bighas (2,000 hectares) at six new locations in the Nalagarh area in Solan district to the industrial houses.

Likewise, 12,000 bighas (3,600 hectares) have been earmarked at Sanspur Terrace, Milwan, Kandrori and Indora in Kangra district for the expansion of industrial estates.

“Even the government would soon set up an industrial land bank so that easy access to the land could be ensured to the industrial houses across the state,” Kapoor said.

According to the minister, a textile park would be set up in Una district with an investment of Rs.350 crore and an information technology park with an investment of Rs.400 crore would be established at Waknaghat in Solan district.

According to official data, the present Bharatiya Janata Party government has attracted an investment of Rs.6,120.92 crore with the commissioning of 2,616 industrial units across the state from December 2007 till date.

During this period the government has cleared 3,469 industrial proposals worth Rs.14,097.63 crore.

Two-wheeler major Hero Honda has also approached the state government for land to set up a facility in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area.

Nestle India also is to set up a food and beverage unit with an outlay of Rs.400 crore in the Tahliwal industrial area in Una district. It has recently signed a memorandum of understanding on land lease with the state.

Under Himachal Pradesh laws, only permanent residents can buy land in the state. Others, who want to purchase the land for non-agricultural purposes, have to seek relaxation from the government under the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.