Chandigarh forms panel for redressal of estate-related issues of industry

The administration had set up phases I and II of the Industrial Area during the 70s on an area measuring 147 acres.

The industry associations have been demanding transfer of leasehold plots to freehold, to facilitate transfer of plots from leasehold to leasehold and allotment of vacant plots in both the phases of the Industrial Area.

UT Home Secretary-cum-Secretary (Industry) Anurag Aggarwal said the committee had been asked to fix rates for transfer of leasehold to leasehold plots. The committee would also take up the issue of transfer of leasehold plots to freehold which was pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

During the meeting, the industrialists urged the administration to keep the misuse notice in abeyance till the Centre took a decision on the proposed revision of misuse charges of administration. Following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the administration had proposed reduction in misuse charges, which earlier were Rs 500 per square foot per month. Aggarwal said that the demand had been considered but the final decision would be taken after taking a legal opinion.

Arun Mahajan, a member of the committee, said that industrialists were facing a lot of estate-related issues and were now hopeful of resolving them at the earliest.

Marketing campaign
FOR attracting investment, the administration has decided to take help of the industry associations to launch a marketing campaign. According to Pankaj Khanna, a member of the committee, the city has a lot of potential and a lot of big players want to invest in the field of information technology and knowledge process outsourcing. The administration has assured them of forming a single-window policy for ease of doing business.

Beautification of Industrial Area
THE industry associations have been entrusted with the responsibility of beautification of the Industrial Area. There are around five associations and each will be assigned a separate entry point for beautification. The issue of beautification has also been highlighted in the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031.