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Srinagar, Oct 20: About Rs 3,174 crore were invested by the private sector in Jammu and Kashmir as 169 industrial units have been established, providing employment to 19,686 unemployed youth during the past three years.

While Rs 2,628 crore were invested in Jammu division, Rs 541 crore in Kashmir and Rs 5 crore in the Leh region.

This was informed at a high-level meeting of the Industries and Commerce Department chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here last evening.

He was told that ambitious plans have been launched to develop industrial estates in various parts of the state and in this connection, 324 kanals (16.2 hectares) of land was at present under development which includes 96 kanals (4.8 hectares) at Handwara, 74 kanals (3.7 hectares) in Pattan, 25 kanals (1.25 hectares) in Udhampur, 53 kanals (2.65 hectares) in Kathua, 42 kanals (2.1 hectares) in Kishtwar and 32 kanals (1.6 hectares) in Kargil.

The department was also acquiring 9,318 kanals (465.9 hectares) of land in other parts of the state.

For this purpose, 2823 kanals (141.15 hectares) were being acquired for industrial growth centre at Samba phase III, 248 kanals (12.4 hectares) for new industrial estate at Kharote, 979 kanals (48.95 hectares) in Govindsar, 2039 kanals (101.95 hectares) in Gatti phase-I and 1429 kanals (71.45 hectares) at Gatti phase-II in Kathua.

In addtion, 1131 kanals (56.55 hectares) for expansion of industrial estate in Khunmoh, Srinagar, 155 kanals (7.75 hectares) for industrial estate at Drugmulla in Kupwara, 50 kanals (2.5 hectares) in Dooru, 253 kanals (12.65 hectares) at Vessu in Anantnag, 50 kanals (2.5 hectares) in Kulgam and 151 kanals (7.55 hectares) for cricket bat cluster at Sethar in Anantnag was being acquired by the department.

In the last three years, the Industries Department under the rehabilitation of sick unit programme has provided soft loans worth Rs 3.33 crore to 3,151 sick units holders for their revival while 37 more such cases have been approved for this purpose.

Work on the Udyog Bhawan Complex at Jammu was going on in full swing and is expected to be completed by early next year while the land for a similar complex in Srinagar has been identified. Under the SSI sector, 21,140 units were set up providing employment to 84,453 youth investment of Rs 2375.24 crore. A turnover of Rs 4687.77 crore was achieved during the past five years in the state.

To give fillip to the industrial sector, a comprehensive policy for infrastructure development, marketing support, coverage of all areas under industrial network and launching of employment oriented ventures was the need of the hour, Mr Azad said.

He emphasised that the time had come to encourage industrialists to move far-flung and backward areas for establishment of feasible and location specified industrial units. It will not only be beneficial for entrepreneurs, but also for the people living in these backward areas in job opportunities.

The Minister was apprised that the department has a programme of developing community and cluster units to be utilised as common facility centres and in this regard, common facility centre for wood furniture, joinery cluster and common facility centre for cricket bat industry at Sither was in progress.

Mr Azad inquired about reasons for Jammu and Kashmir not having high standard bat industries while similar units flourished in Jalandhar which exclusively depended on raw material from the state.

He asked the departments concerned to chalk out full fledged programme so that the raw material was properly utilised in the industries of the state.

The Chief Minister also directed the authorities concerned to organise two exhibitions in a year both at Srinagar and Jammu. The exhibitions should become centre of marketing activities so that the participants would be able to market their products, he added.

Mr Azad said handicraft products generate crores of rupees income to the state under the private sector and directed the authorities to ensure better turnover in government handicrafts showrooms set up in and outside the state. He also advised them to ensure the quality and price of the handicraft products.

The meeting also reviewed the progress registered under the Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojna and it was informed that during the past five years, 6274 income generating units had been established in the state by advancing Rs 5669.88 crore.

The meeting also reviewed the achievements registered under the Handicrafts and Geology and Mining sector in the state.

UNI