Punjab advisory council for 10 industrial clustures

Chairman of the advisory council’s sub-committee on industry SK Munjal,while presenting a report commissioned from the Boston Consulting Group by the council,said Punjab should focus on inviting interest in specific industries for which clusters could be established wherever land banks are available. The report highlighted that land banks are available in Batala,Pathankot,Amritsar,Mattewara (Ludhiana),Sirhind and Mohali etc.

Munjal stressed that besides identifying industries and clusters,the state must develop the eco system at all these places,which the Deputy CM assured was already being done. Sukhbir informed the council that the state government was keen to establish clusters for IT industry,agro processing industry,textiles,hand tools,healthcare and education.

The council also agreed to a proposal Sukhbir to take over development of all major roads and parks in Ludhiana. Council member Rakesh Bharti Mittal said Punjab Industrial Adviser Kamal Oswal would be the convener on behalf of the council for this initiative. The Deputy CM requested the council to form a committee for this purpose and come out with a mandate for ‘Green Ludhiana’ by December 1.

Among other suggestions which came up during the meeting was the need to take perishable food items out of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Act (APMC). Rakesh Mittal said this was essential to encourage investment of the private sector in retailing of fruits and vegetables. There was also a suggestion to initiate vocational training in all government schools in the state from Class VIII. Sukhbir assured the council that both issues would be looked into and implemented.