Uttarakhand Wants To Provide Fresh Boost To Industry

Dehra Dun: Faced with stinging criticism that the industrial process was being hampered, the Uttarakhand government is trying hard to give a fresh impulsion to industrialisation and call new proposals for the hilly region.For this, the government is asking proposals from industrial houses to establish small and eco-friendly industries in the state''s hills. An action plan has been drafted to promote village industries, agriculture-based units and cottage industries, adding Rs 6.25 crore has been earmarked for it.

Chief Minister BC Khanduri is also keen to witness industrialisation on a firm footing and has told bureaucrats to work more on calling investments in both the hilly and the plain regions. Khanduri has already made a passionate appeal to industrial houses to set up small eco-friendly units in the hills also. Udyogmitra, a government body established to promote industries in the state, will now meet every three months and try to give an impetus to industrial growth in the state. The chief minister, during his recent meetings, had told various industrial associations that 1633 new proposals worth Rs 300 crore had poured into Uttarakhand ever since his government came to power. 800 industrial units had began production with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore. Forty thousands people had received employment through these industrial units.