Virbhadra unhappy over curtailed industrial package period

Chandigarh, Dec 14 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today expressed unhappiness over the Centre's move curtailing the special industrial package period for the state from March 31, 2013 to March 31, 2010, saying that this is preventing many industries from setting up new units.

Regarding the concentration of industrial clusters at few places like Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh and Kala Amb in the state, the Chief Minister explained that the infrastructure available in Chandigarh, Panchkula and other surrounding areas made them more advantageous adding that industries should consider Himachal not just for industrial package but also for its abundance of electricity, peaceful atmosphere and good governance.

For the betterment of the employees, public and private companies are coming up with housing projects and other facalities in these industrial towns and the the government had decided to make it mandatory for the employer to open bank accounts of each and every worker, and pay the salaries through cheques in order to do away with the practice of the hiring and paying labourers through contractors.

He also announced lifting of the ban imposed by the government on sale of property and all kinds of deeds in the Baddi area after zoning of the area for the betterment of the people and thorough enquiry into sale of properties on the basis of power of attorney to avoid stamp duties.

When asked about the roads in the states, he said only 150 gram panchayats were not linked with motorable roads and these too, would be connected before March 2008.

Ruling out mid-term polls in the state he dismissed as baseless BJP allegations of discrimination towards Kangra district saying that the Congress government treated all areas in the state equally and that the people were aware of this was evident from the elections of the gram samities in which the Congress got 10 out of 14 seats in the district.

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