Separate authority to maintain Focal Points, investment summit in March next year: Arora

Industries and Power Minister Sanjiv Arora today said that the Punjab government was going to form a separate authority for the maintenance of Industrial Focal Points, which will solve the problems of industrialists. Addressing a press conference here today, Arora said that tenders worth Rs 100 crore have been floated for the upgrade of Focal Points and arrangements for sewerage, CCTV cameras, lights, roads etc are being made. For the convenience of industrialists, exhibition centres will be built in Mohali, Amritsar and Ludhiana soon, he said.

Arora said that for the development of industry in Punjab, ‘Rising Punjab—-Suggestion to Solution’ events are being organised in all big cities, starting from Amritsar today. He said the government is taking new initiatives for artisans. Talking about the achievements so far, the minister said that an investment of Rs 14 thousand crore has been made in Punjab so far, due to which four and a half lakh people have got employment. He said over 40-year-old issues have been resolved with the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, which has benefited plot holders. The state would be giving ownership of the plots allotted on lease to the artisans so that they can easily conduct their financial transactions.

He said all approvals for setting up industries in Punjab are being ensured within 45 days. To take industry to the top, the government has formed 24 committees for different sectors, with all members being nominated from that particular industry.

The minister said that a Punjab Investment Summit will be held in Mohali on March 13-14 in which artisans, traders, NRIs and foreign companies will be invited so that they can invest as much as possible in Punjab. He also said that approval under the Right to Business initiative, which was earlier up to Rs 25 crore, has been increased to Rs 125 crore and these approvals are being ensured within five to 15 days. Arora said that last year, incentives of Rs 90 crore had been given to the artisans and now Rs 222 crore has been distributed in five months.