Himachal to develop industrial towns scientific lines

New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh has decided to develop industrial towns bordering Punjab, Haryana and Uttranchal on scientific lines.

HP Chief Secretary S S Parmar disclosed this while addressing Chief Secretaries Conference on 'North Indian Common Economy', organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and industry here today.

This would be done to meet the growing demands of residents and meet infrastructural requirements due to heavy industrialisation, he said.

Industrial township Baddi-Barotiwala would alone witness 1,000 vehicles daily in future and all such areas had registered rapid industrial growth due to successful implementation of new industrial policy which had put additional burden on existing infrastructure and civic amenities which requires immediate redressal and formulation of long term policies for these areas to meet the growing future requirements and sustain the growth of these areas, he added.

He requested the Haryana government to take necessary steps to ease the traffic congestion at Kalka-Pinjore stretch and also construct Pinjore bye pass to divert the vehicular traffic in proper direction.

Mr Parmar suggested setting up of a Hill Council comprising states like Himachal, J&K and Uttranchal on the pattern of North Eastern Council to share the areas of expertise and enhance development and co-operation among hill states to ensure optimum use of natural resources of the region.

He said Himachal Pradesh had already signed memorandum of understanding with Uttranchal to share its expertise, knowhow and scientific research in case of horticulture and tourism to help the new state.

Himachal Pradesh was willing to share its expertise with other states of the region for prosperity and development of Northern States.

The Chief Secretary said the State had always followed Central policies in various areas and added that state had adopted various new economic policies in taxation, tourism, and transport, and had also adopted a new Act by reducing the market fee from two per cent to one per cent.

He congratulated PHD Chamber President Sushma Berlia for convening the summit an taking various other initiative and steps for fostering economic co-operation among Northern states.

UNI IP MP PC1847