Industrialists upbeat about new policy

The proposed new industrial policy will not only revive the existing industry but will also attract new industry in the state, say the industrialists of Mohali.

The proposed new industrial policy will not only revive the existing industry but will also attract new industry in the state, say the industrialists of Mohali.

According to sources, the new policy, expected to be released shortly, will supersede the policy released by the Housing Department in January 2008. The major relaxations in the new policy are likely to include reduction in the requirement of the size for commercial conversion and reduction in fees for commercial conversion of the plots in the existing industrial areas. The charges for commercial conversion are likely to be reduced considerably from the rates fixed earlier.

The new policy, said sources, will allow setting up of a multiplex on an industrial plot measuring 4,000 square yards in the existing industrial area.

Setting up of cafeteria and ATMs on such plots has already been permitted by Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation.

A cross-section of industrialists in Mohali, told Newsline that the move will relax the norms and make setting up of new industry more attractive in Punjab.

8220;It is high time such moves are introduced to revive industry in the state,8221; said Sukhbir Singh Shergill, general secretary, SAS Institute of Information and Technology, Mohali. Shergill said the policy should be made applicable to the entire industrial area of Mohali and not be confined only to Phase VIII-B.

Industrial areas should be provided with better infrastructure, said Sanjay Gupta, director, Spray Engineering Devices Limited. This will help Mohali industrial area become a hub of the BPO industry, he said.

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The 200-foot wide road connecting Kharar to Airport and Banur will give a boost to the Mohali industrial area, said Rajiv Syal, a renowned structural designer of the city.

The road will be completed in the scheduled time of nine months, said Avtar Singh Walia, the managing director of the construction company which is allotted the project.

Sources said the industrialists have also been demanding permission to allow warehousing in the industrial area for long.

8220;We need a positive and quick response from the government about giving permission to set up business here, said NRI Shishu Bedi, who is also founder chairman of e-billboard.com.

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Bedi has recently started his business of electronic advertisements in Mohali.

State Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia had recently promised that the new industrial policy will fulfill the demands of the industrialists.