Country’s first industrial nucleus in neglect

The country’s first Industrial Nucleus Complex at Goindwal Sahib is in a state of neglect for decades now. After hundreds of workers lost their jobs and entrepreneurs went under debt, it has been renamed ‘Industrial Focal Point, Goindwal Sahib’.

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Goindwal Sahib was established by the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, in 1552 to boost trade in the town situated on the Sher Shah Suri Marg (GT Road) and on the banks of the Beas.

The complex, which was once managed by the Goindwal Industrial and Investment Corporation (GIICO) to provide a single-window facility for industrial units, is now under the Punjab Small Industry and Export Corporation (PSIEC).

In 1980, the Union Government, in its Industrial Policy, gave Goindwal Sahib the status of country’s first Industrial Nucleus Complex. It was the only town in Punjab where the industry as well as domestic consumers were given round-the-clock power supply.

As per the master plan, Goindwal Sahib was projected to be the fourth largest city of the state after Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana with the population reaching 3 lakh in 50-60 years. At present, the town has the population of 13,000 with 7,000 voters. According to the master plan, 6,000 acres of land was to be acquired in phases. Of this, 1,200 acres (20%) was earmarked for industry and the remaining 4,800 acres (80%) was to be reserved for an urban complex. The Centre also wanted to establish BHEL, HMT and many big units to boost auxiliary units. However, terrorism dealt a body blow to the development of the complex. The prevailing situation at that time and apathetic attitude of the Centre and state government not only led to the closure of many industrial units but also rendered hundreds of factory workers jobless. Bawa Shoe factory, cooperative spinning mills and other few industrial units were top choices for job seekers.

In 1988, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had laid stone for a paper mill to be set up by Punjab Agro. Land measuring 450 acres was acquired for the purpose, but the unit is yet to see the light of the day. Of the acquired land, 85 acres has been allotted to the Central Jail. Some part has been used for setting up of the Institute of Nursing, University Regional Centre, affiliated to the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). The land has also been allotted to a paint company and Punjab Mandi Board to establish grain market here. Some portion of the land has been encroached by influential persons.

The status of the Nucleus Complex was withdrawn by the Centre in 1998 when there were about 170 industrial units in Goindwal Sahib.

Prior to that, 909 acres of land was acquired in two phases. Entrepreneurs highlighted their problems in front of political bigwigs, but to no avail. A big portion of the acquired land is now lying vacant and many functional units have shut. Crores spent by the Centre and the state government have gone waste.

Ramandeep Singh Bharowal, Chairman, Goindwal Industrial Association, said the present scenario of the complex was that there were only 67 functional units. He said with the closure of the shoe company, spinning mill, steel firm and other big units a large number of workers had become unemployed. Due to the closure of many units, the complex now wears a deserted look. Once buzzing with activity, the GIICO office has been encroached by unscrupulous elements. The community hall is also in a state of neglect.

Goindwal Sahib is linked with the surrounding towns like Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Beas and Jalandhar with railway line. Ramandeep Singh Bharowal and Ranjit Singh Bhullar, representatives of the entrepreneurs, said they were doing their best to revive the industrial complex, besides highlighting the issues being faced by the entrepreneurs.