Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 24 : Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today underscored the need for universalizing industrial development in the State utilizing the feasibility and potential of different regions for different industries.
“In order to give considerable boost to the economy and seek holistic welfare of all areas of the State, the focussed attention on the development and growth of local raw material based industry in consonance with the feasibility and potential of the area is of significant importance”, he said and emphasized the need for providing necessary boost to world famous State Handicrafts.
Speaking at the occasion of receiving a cheque of Rs. one crore from Minister for Industries, S. S. Slathia as dividend to Government out of the profit of JK Cements Limited achieved in 2011-12, the Chief Minister said that local entrepreneurs should be facilitated and encouraged to launch ventures in MSME sector which possess great potential to grow in the State.
“We have greater scope in Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurship field and youth of the State are talented enough to make necessary dent and prove their mettle in this field”, he said, adding that proper awareness and necessary help to them should be underlined as primary concern. He asked the Industries Department to encourage the young entrepreneurs and make the process of launching small industrial units hassle free.
The Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister of State for Industries, Manohar Lal Sharma, Principal Secretary Finance, Iqbal Khandey, Commissioner Secretary Industries, Shant Manu, Managing Director JKCL, R. K. Razdan and other officers were present on the occasion.
Giving brief about the functioning of JKCL, Mr. Slathia said that the company has earned a net profit of Rs. 4.3 crore last year and the target for this year been fixed at Rs. 7 crore. “We expect a turnover of Rs. 180 crores in 2012-13 as against Rs. 120.50 crore registered in 2011-12 and Rs. 81.87 crore in 2010-11”, he explained and said that JKCL is expected to pay dividend worth Rs. 3 crore to the Government next year.
The Industries Minister said that JKCL has targeted to produce 2.66 lakh tonnes of cement in the current financial year as against 1.77 lakh tonnes in 2011-12 and 1.37 lakh tonnes in 2010-11. The company sold 1.77 lakh tonnes of cement last year. He said the old cement plant is being upgraded at a cost of Rs. 4 crore, adding that 300 ton per day capacity clinker grinding-cum-packing plant at Samba is being constructing at a cost of Rs. 26.96 crore.
He said JKI is being revived and brought on path of development and profit. He said silk showroom of Kashmir famous Silk items is being shortly opened at the Silk Factory, Rajbagh.
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