HP government failed in utilizing industrial package

Shimla, July 19 (UNI) Reiterating its charge that the Himachal Pradesh Government had failed to ''fully utilise'' the industrial package to the state given by the previous Vajpayee Government, the BJP today urged the state government to refrain from making misleading statements on the issue.

''State Industry Minister Kuldeep Kumar's reaction on former union minister Shanta Kumar's charge that the Himachal Government had failed to take full advantage of the package was totally unwarranted,'' party's spokesman Rajiv Bindal said at a press conference here.

He said it was state government's duty to prepare the ground for the growth of the industry, which was here as a consequence of the industrial package by strengthening infrastructure like roads, sanitation, solid waste management and social services.

''However, the government had miserably failed on this.'' The very fact that more than 90 per cent industrial units were concentrated in the peripheral areas of Baddi, Barotiwala and Parwanoo was proof enough that the state government had failed to improve the existing infrastructure in the state, he said.

Mr Bindal said the lack of proper infrastructure had prevented the industries from setting up their bases in the interior parts of the state.

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