First dry port from March: Bansi

The rail movement of containers from Rewari to Mumbai, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Kandla ports will be undertaken by the Container Corporation of India. The initial capacity of the container will be to handle 50,000 containers per annum and it would take full advantage of the latest developments in freight technology, communication and computerisation of operation. Bansi Lal said that the project would provide employment to the people of the area, besides helping the exporters and importers.

He said that he was undertaking development projects in Ahirwal area on priority basis as this area remained neglected during the tenure of Congress regime despite the fact that it had representation in the council of ministers. He pointed out that he did not relate development of any area with vote politics. He said that he would again visit the area to have first hand information of the grievances and problems of the people .

The chairman of Haryana Warehousing Corporation Rattan Lal Kataria said that all formalities relating to export and import would be completed at Rewari itself and this container depot would provide a boon for the entrepreneurs.

Later, while talking to newsmen today, he said that house rent and city compensatory allowances admissible according to the revised pay scales would be given soon to the state government employees.

On the nurses’ impasse, the chief minister said that a committee of ministers was negotiating with the agitating nurses for an amicable solution.Replying to a question, Bansi Lal said the state government was actively considering abolition of octroi in the state.

The chief minister said that the government’s main thrust was on the all-round development of the state. However, priority was being given to improving the availability of power for paddy and oilseed growing in Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Yamunanagar, Karnal districts and parts of Panipat, Ambala and Ahirwal.

He said that the first unit of 432 mw gas-based power plant of Faridabad would be ready by January next and it would generate 142 mw of power. Three liquid fuel-based power plants of 25 mw each would also be set up as soon as these had been given three months’ time for financial tie-up. Bansi Lal said that power purchase agreement had already been signed with these units.

He said that the state had power generation capacity of 863 mw at present and a power-generation capacity of an additional 1,200 mw would be added by the state government by February next. He pointed out that a team from Andhra Pradesh had visited Haryana to study the manner in which the new power generation projects would come up in Haryana speedily.