Punjab Govt wants special concessions for industry

Ludhiana, Nov 23 (UNI) The Punjab Government has decided to send a delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to press for giving special concessions to the border state at par with those being given to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

This move is basically aimed at checking the flight of industry from Punjab to the states where concessions are avaliable, Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia said here today.

Mr Kalia who was addressing the annual general body meeting of the Auto Parts Manufacturer's Association here today stated that in a bid to get the problems of the Punjab industry sorted out, the Chief Minister and he would arrange a meeting of the representatives of industrial associations with the Prime Minister soon.

" We want new units to come up in Punjab", he added.

Mr Kalia said that there was no objection to industrilisation in any state, but the special industrial packages should be based upon the natural potential of the concerned states. Elaborating further, he said that in Himachal Pardesh the package should be given exclusively for the promotion of hydro power based industry development, while, in Punjab the Agro based industry could be given special attention.

The Industry Minister said that presently concessions and subsidies given by the Union Government to selective states, were adversely affecting industrialisation in other states as entrepreneurs were shifting out of their home states for obtaining these benefits.

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