Freeze on power rates for industrial units till 2018

SHIMLA: Indian and foreign investors have shown interest in establishing industrial units in solar energy, air taxi services and food park sectors on the second day of the investor meet in New Delhi today, said Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri here today.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 6

Indian and foreign investors have shown interest in establishing industrial units in solar energy, air taxi services and food park sectors on the second day of the investor meet in New Delhi today, said Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri here today.

The state had industrial-friendly atmosphere and the process of establishing industries had been simplified. The government had freezed the rates of electricity for industries till 2018, said the minister.

The decision will give big boost to the industry. The minister said along with tremendous scope for the hydropower industry, industrialists in the solar sector had also approached the state for establishing units in clean energy. Noted industrial house Green Mantra had shown interest in the field of solar energy.

At present, solar energy projects of 980 kw are operational in the state, while 650 kw projects will be operational in two months.

A Rs 1 crore model solar city project has been approved for Hamirpur. Another Rs 5 crore pilot solar city project has been approved for Shimla. The cost of per unit production is Rs 8-9.

The minister reiterated the demand for granting a Central package to the industry in Himachal Pradesh. Aero-Aircraft had shown interest in air service from Shimla to Delhi, Uber in taxi operations and others in film and food processing sectors, he added.

CM hardsells state

In a bid to hardsell Himachal to project it as a preferred destination for investment, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has elaborated the comparative advantages of setting up industrial units and said the government had initiated several steps to ensure “Ease of Doing Business” in the state and to make the services available online to ensure delivery of services in a time bound manner. Interacting with investors in the evening session of “Emerging Himachal Investors Meet” organised jointly by the government in collaboration and the CII, New Delhi, he said Himachal had excellent track record of good industrial relations. About 1000 investors participated in the meet.