Industries Dept cancels unused plots

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 1

The officials of the Industries Department (ID) today cancelled 27 industrial plots which were lying unused or had been diverted for alternative activities like godowns in the various industrial areas (IAs) of Baddi, Barotiwala, Jharmajri, Lodhimajra and Thana.

Out of the 27 plots, two were lying vacant where no activity had been initiated and two others had been rented out as a godown. The remaining 23 plots were lying unused where no manufacturing activity was underway for the last several years. Plots measuring 1,000 sq m to 3,000 sq m have been cancelled in these industrial areas.

The move assumes significance in view of the fact that demand for such plots was pouring in from prospective investors. The Industries Minister had stated in the Vidhan Sabha recently that all industrial plots which were being misused would be resumed back. Amit Kashyap, Director Industries, while confirming the news, said these plots have been cancelled after giving ample opportunities to the allottees to initiate manufacturing activities.

He said 27 plots would now be available for fresh allotment and since there were several prospective entrepreneurs available to avail these plots, they can be put to appropriate use. Earlier, 25 plots had been cancelled in this industrial belt and process to resume them from the allottees was underway. These plots are leased out to an investor after an auction. Since the government had exempted the industrial plots owned by the state government from the rigorous procedures under section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, the investors preferred to avail these plots. This was especially so since obtaining approval under section 118 was cumbersome and lengthy and an investor wanted to invest minimum time in setting up his enterprise.

Deputy Director, Industries, TR Sharma, while saying that the move will give boost to new investment, said demand for plots measuring about 2,000 sq m to 3,000 sq m in the area was being received from the investors and it will help them rope in fresh entrepreneurs. Surprisingly, though some investors did not initiate any production activity on the plots for years they were reluctant to part with the plots. They tried to hold on to these by furnishing fake project details.