Himachal record Rs 7026 crore investment: Dhumal

Chandigarh, Nov 5 (UNI) Industrialisation in Himachal Pradesh has made significant progress during last few years and has attracted investment of Rs 7026 crore, said Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

"At present there are 34,771 small, 388 medium and large scale industrial units providing employment to 2,19,000 persons," Mr Dhumal said while speaking at the Economic Times Chief Ministers' Summit here last evening.

"To ensure robust climate for investment in Himachal Pradesh, the government is encouraging private sector investment in hydropower, tourism, cement, textiles etc. Environment friendly industries and those based on local raw material and envisage more employment to local people had been given priority," he said.

The government is developng social infrastructure such as housing for all categories of industrial workers; health, education and transport facilities in and around industrial areas of the state.

He said that the state has intensified its efforts to impress upon the Railway Ministry for the early execution of the Bhanupal-Bilaspur-Barmana rail link. Widening of approach roads such as Pinjore-Baddi highway, Kala Amb-Yamunanagar highway, Nalagarh-Ropar road, Gowalthai-Nangal road, Gagret-Hoshiarpur roads had been identified to ensure smooth transportation of industrial goods.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh, who also participated in the meet, agreed for redressal of mutual problems especially to improve the condition of roads leading to Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh Industrial areas in Himachal.

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