Punjab to bring new industrial policy by year-end

Chandigarh, Aug 25 (UNI) The Punjab government is in talks with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to devise a new industrial policy for the state.

''We are consulting with the United Nationals Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) which has sanctioned 40,000 dollars for this purpose and has appointed a national consultant for conducting a study and prepare draft of the industrial policy of Punjab,'' Local Bodies and Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia told reporters here yesterday.

The new industrial policy would be finalised by December, he added.

Mr Kalia said the state government was taking steps to expedite the implementation of mega projects approved under industrial policy. As many as 65 industrial mega projects sanctioned during last five years had been reviewed by the present government.

The government, he said, had directed the concerned departments to expedite the issue of orders/notifications in respect of incentives pertaining to these projects granted by the empowered committee. These projects involve proposed investment of about Rs 13,236 crore.

He said as many as 41 mega industrial park projects sanctioned in the last five years had also been reviewed and concerned departments had been directed to expedite requisite approvals in respect of industrial park projects. These projects involve proposed investment of about Rs 26,343 crore.

The State government was reviewing the entire procedure, concessions and conditions for mega projects in order to make the system transparent and hassle-free, he said.

The procedure and other details will be put on the web site of State government, he added.

The Minister said the government was finalising rules under Punjab Industrial Facilitation Act, which was enacted in the year 2005 but was not implemented so far.

''A system of regular review and monitoring of all clearances under this Act is also being implemented,'' he said.

The government, he said, had been sanctioning Capital subsidy to industrial units under industrial police of 1996. However, funds were not released for disbursement of subsidy. As a result, backlog of pending sanctioned subsidy accumulated to over Rs 500 crore.

The SAD-BJP government had now disbursed Rs 90 crore to the industries and another 15 crore under the process. During current financial year, another Rs 100 crore would be released for disbursement of subsidy.

He said the state government had decided to set up a new industrial focal point near Kapurthala on Kapurthala-Subhanpur road at 294 acres of land.

On the implementation of Guru Gobind Singh Refinery project at Bathinda, he said the requisite approvals for the project has been granted by the Centre.

''The project is to be implemented with investment of about Rs 19,000 crore by the Mittals in collaboration with with HPCL. The refinery is expected to be commissioned by December 2010,'' he added.

UNI