New rehab policy by early next month: Mahto

Jamshedpur, Jan 22 (UNI) Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto today said the government would constitute a comprehensive rehablitation and industrial policy by February 15.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Mahto, also looking after the Industries and Forest portfolios, said the government was serious about industrial growth for which a new industrial and purchase policy would be brought about.

He said the government would encourage small scale industries through the new purchase policy.

The government would also promote forest-based industries and steps had already been initiated in this regard Mr Mahto said adding that the bamboo industry was revived in Baharagora recently.

He said to revive the sick industries, the government had waived Rs 5.10 crore state liabilites of Khilari cement plant near Ranchi, which would resume production from next month after five years.

About 5000 people would be absorbed in the cement plant, he added.

About rehab policy, he said the government was scrutinising the rehab policies of at least eight states and planning to adopt some of these to make the new policy more comprehensive and people-friendly.

Mr Mahto said he also initiated talk with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to sort out the industrial assets litigation issue between the two states soon adding that at least eleven such cases were pending with its parent state.

The Minister also expressed concern over the proposal of the Delimitation Commission to reduce the number of Schedule Tribes seats from 28 to 21 stating that the government had opposed such move.

''We are also demanding to increase the number of Assembly seats from 81 to 150 and there should be a Legislative Council on the line of Bihar,'' Mr Mahto added.

UNI