* 650 kanals still vacant in 32 IEs, 258 allottees yet to set up units
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 9: Implementing the key provision of Industrial Policy announced last year, the Government has transferred all the industrial estates with the District Industries Centres (DICs) to the Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (SICOP) with immediate effect. Now, it is to be seen how far this step will help in utilization of 650 kanals of vacant land in these industrial estates and ensure establishment of units by 258 persons who were allotted plots several years back.
After inordinate delay, the Industrial Policy was issued vide Ord er No.58-IND dated March 15, 2016 following approval by the State Administrative Council headed by Governor N N Vohra. However, following establishment of PDP-BJP Coalition Government some changes were brought in the policy and thereafter it was notified again vide Order No.125-IND dated June 21, 2016.
Under Section 2.10.2 of the Industrial Policy thrust was laid on transfer of all the existing industrial estates with the District Industries Centres (DICs) to J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited to ensure more efficient management of existing estates and faster development of new ones.
Now, Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Industries and Commerce Department, Shailendra Kumar vide Order No.48-IND dated March 3, 2017 has accorded sanction to the transfer of all the industrial estates with the DICs and having area less than 500 kanals to the SICOP on “as is where is” basis with immediate effect, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“An amount of Rs 150 crore has been kept at the disposal of SICOP for utilization during the current as well as next financial year to achieve the objective behind the transfer of industrial estates”, sources said while claiming that this step is expected to give boost to the development of Micro and Small Scale Industry while simultaneously leaving the DICs free to focus and concentrate on hand holding the entrepreneurs from the stage of conception of the project to the registration and subsequently to operation and continuous production while clearing incentives under the State and Central Packages”.
With this order SICOP will directly manage 20 industrial estates, which were under the control of Directorate of Industries and Commerce Kashmir and 12 industrial estates, which were being administered by Directorate of Industries and Commerce Jammu. “Now it is to be seen how far this step will help in better management of these industrial estates and faster development of new ones”, sources said while disclosing that huge chunk of land in these 32 industrial estates is still lying vacant while as 258 persons who were allotted plots several years back have yet not completed the process of establishment of industrial units.
According to the official data, 20 industrial estates in Kashmir valley, which have been transferred to SICOP, are spread over a total of 1558.56 kanals of land out of which 1286.56 kanals has already been allotted. While 674 units have already been established in these industrial estates 161 are still in the process of being established despite lapse of considerable period of time.
Similarly, 12 industrial estates in Jammu, which have now been transferred to SICOP, are spread over an area of 958.72 kanals but only 584.81 kanals of land has been allotted till date where 243 units are claimed to have been established. However, 97 units are still being established by the allottees of the plots despite the fact that allotments were made long time back.
“On one side the allottees were not coming forward to set-up units and on the other side the Directorates of Industries and Commerce were not ready to take stringent measures against the allottees”, sources said, adding “in this way the objective of allotment of plots in the industrial estates could not be achieved”.
When contacted, Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Industries and Commerce Department Shailendra Kumar said, “we have issued clear instructions to the allottees that they will have to establish units within a period of two years from the date of allotment failing which Government will cancel the allotment”.
“Though there is a provision for grant of two extensions—one by Directorates of Industries and Commerce and another by Apex Committee headed by Chief Secretary yet the same can be granted only on the basis of plausible reasons”, he further said, adding “clear directions have been issued to SICOP to ensure that all the allottees come up with the industrial units within specified time-frame”.
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