Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 5: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) today expressed concern over sluggish industrial development in the Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora areas of North Kashmir.
A spokesperson for the federation said that instances of stark inequalities and imbalanced development were brought to the attention of the Advisory Committee of FCIK during a meeting chaired by Shakeel Qalander at the Industrial Estate Baramulla. He said these districts, covering 44.89% of the total area in Kashmir, house only 12% of the industrial units in the region.
The spokesperson added that industry representatives from seven industrial estates highlighted that authorities failed to establish major industrial estates in these districts, hindering investment and opportunities for the educated youth. “While Baramulla district has only three functional industrial estates, Kupwara and Bandipora have two each. The two estates in Bandipora, over 61 kanals of land, had mostly remained in use with security forces over the past three decades,” he said.
The spokesperson said that the Rudbugh industrial estate, established in 2016 with over 85 kanals of kahcharai land, had its land legally transferred by the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Council to the Industries and Commerce Department a month ago. “However, the land, though demarcated, is not being handed over to the concerned unit holders on one pretext or the other,” he said.
He said the Tulbal industrial estate, spread over 428 kanals of land, is facing litigation from villagers despite the allotment of 75 industrial plots in the estate. “The Advisory Committee assured the concerned representatives that they would advocate for their issues with the government,” he said.
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