Orissa to set up Industrial corridor for downstream industries

Bhubaneswar, Apr 02 (UNI) An Industrial Corridor would be set up to facilitate the downstream and ancillary industries in Orissa, Minister for Industries Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said here today.

The Industry Minister said the state owned Industrial Development Corporation has been asked to conduct a study and submit a report within three months.

After reviewing the progress of the industries, Mr Harichandan regretted that the industrial units which had set up their units in the state recruited more people from outside than from within the state.

The Industry Minister said the Jindal Steels recruited 92 technical and 56 non-technical people from Orissa, while it employed 235 technical and 42 non-technical people from outside the state.

The government, he said, had directed the industrial units to give top priority to local people in the recruitment.

He said in Kalinganagar industrial area of Jajpur district eight industrial units with an investment of Rs 21,826 crore would become operational soon and create employment potential for 22,540 people.

At present 12,160 people were appointed in Kalinga nagar of which 9,704 were from Orissa.

Mr Harichandan denied that any company had received any threat mail from the naxals. He said the Collectors and the Superintendents of Police in the industrial areas were asked to handle the situation carefully and review the safety and security measures from time to time and maintain law and order.

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