BJP demands restoration of NDA's industrial package to HP

Shimla, Aug 6 (UNI) Demanding that the industrial package to Himachal Pradesh should be extended by six years instead of the present three years, former state Chief Minister P K Dhumal today said three years was too short a period to attract investments and rapid industrialisation of the state.

''Within a year of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government coming to power at the Centre, the state's industrial package was brought down to March 31, 2007 from March 31, 2013,'' he said, addressing a press conference here.

On Wednesday, the Centre had extended the industrial package of the state up to 2010 from March 31, 2007, ignoring the claims of the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana that the industries were shifting bases from their states to Himachal.

The package, which had helped the state in attracting investments of over Rs 17,000 in the last three years, was first provided by the previous NDA government for a 10-year- period from March 31, 2003, to March 31, 2013, which was later brought down to March 31, 2007 last year.

Mr Dhumal said three years was too short a period to attract any major investments in the near future and added that a six year period would have attracted several business houses to set up their base in the state.

The state government instead of rejoicing over the extension of industrial package to the state by another three years should approach the Centre and demand a full 10-year extension of the package, he said.

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