Punjab to have Infrastructure Development Board

Chandigarh, Apr 11 (UNI) The Punjab Government would soon set up a Punjab Industrial Infrastructure Development Board (PIIDB) to upgrade the industrial infrastructure besides promoting industrialisation.

An assurance to this effect was given by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during an interaction with the representatives of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) here today.

The Chief Minister said industrialisation was the need of the hour and PIIDB would act as a catalyst for systematic and scientific development of the industry.

The Chief Minister assured the representatives of PHDCCI that the state government was committed to promote industry through the implementation of investor friendly industrial policies and incentives to the advantage of industrialists and entrepreneurs.

The members of the PHDCCI lauded the power reforms initiated by the Chief Minister which includes setting up of three new thermal plants to further augment the power generation by 5000 MWs in the state.

Mr Badal asked the members of the industry chember to harness the joint energies for fighting unemployment and the resultant frustration amongst the youth. He said the Government was considering the setting of joint committee of officers and industrial representatives to explore the potential for absorption of skilled or trained youth in various kinds of employment and industry. He specially mentioned the government's initiative for training the youth for security arrangements especially for industry.

Conceding to the demands of PHDCCI, Mr Badal assured the representatives of industry that an industrial helpline would be launched soon to sort out the issues relating to industry. He also said a high level committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary will be set up at the state headquarters having representatives of the government and the industry to mutually discuss the problems faced by the industry and their solution in a time bound manner.

He asked the Chief Secretary, who was present to hold monthly meetings of the committee to evaluate the feedback and suggest remedial measures to boost investors confidence.

Apart from this Mr Badal also announced the setting up of two committees, one under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner and another under Assistant Deputy Commissioner (G) to redress the grievances of the industrialists on day-to-day basis.

The chamber also urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Union Government for persuading Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd (BHEL) to setup one of its three proposed Mega Thermal Plants in Punjab. He assured he would soon meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde in this regard.

MORE UNI HS Mir AS2023