Empowered Committee clears projects worth Rs 11,170 cr in Punjab

Chandigarh, May 28 (UNI) The Punjab government's Empowered Committee on Mega Projects cleared 11 new projects, worth Rs 11,170 crore, at its meeting here today.

These include six projects in the industrial and five in the agro-industrial sectors.

While the projects in the industrial sector would have a capital outlay of Rs 9,920 crore, those in the agro sector would entail an investment of Rs 1,250 crore.

Some of the projects in the industrial sector also cover housing and multiplexes projects. Clearances to these projects came close on the heels of infrastructure development projects, worth Rs 20,000 crore, cleared by the state government last week.

The meeting was presided by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Chief Minister's Media Advisor Harcharan Bains said the Empowered Committee also decided to stipulate that preference would be given to Punjabi youth in matter of employment in these projects.

He said most of these projects have significant employment potential with economic multiplier effect.

Mr Bains said in keeping with the government policy, the Committee decided to extend special incentives to investors.

Accordingly, 50 per cent concession in the rates of External Development Charges (EDC) and 75 per cent in license fee would be admissible to Mega Projects in category 'A'.

However, five per cent of the total amount payable by the developer on account of EDC, CLU (Change of Land Use) and other license fee would be levied as Health and Social Security fund and recovered in addition to the EDC, CLU and license fees.

This amount, Mr Bains said, would be deposited in separate corpus to be established by the state government under health and social security schemes for the welfare of poor.

The rates of EDC, license fees and CLU charges would be as per the different components in the industrial park and depending upon the potential zone in which the park falls. Where a piece of land falls in more than one potential category, the proportionate rate of fiscal charges for each category would apply, he said.

The Committee also decided that the project land, where Change of Land Use (CLU) had already been granted as part or whole of a project would not be included in the future Super Mega Industrial Park Projects.

The projects approved included six Multiplexes-cum-Hotel projects.

The Empowered Committee also approved five agro projects, including a biomass based project of 147 MW to be set up by M/s Green Planet Energy Pvt Ltd of Mumbai at a cost of Rs 955 crore. This project would have power plants at 14 locations in the state.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Local Government and Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria, Medical and Research Education Minister Tikshan Sood, Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal, PWD (B&R) Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langha, Education Minister Dr Upinder Jit Kaur and Chief Secretary R I Singh.

UNI VKJ SP BST1817