Nod to industry in agri zones

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1

Industrialists can now set up units in agricultural zones outside the industrial estates in Haryana.

To boost industrial production, the BJP-JJP government has come out with a new policy for the setting up of the industrial clusters and units in the agricultural zones across the state.

A major concession seems to have been extended to the entrepreneurs intending to set up “Red category” (polluting) industry as the policy allowed the setting up of this industry in the high, medium and low potential zones (except hyper potential zone). Besides, general warehouses can now be set up in addition to agricultural warehouses.

Currently, the industrial policy does not allow industrial units in agricultural zones in the hyper and high potential zones while there are strict guidelines for the setting up of these units in medium and low potential zones.

AK Singh, Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department, said to check the haphazard growth of industrial units outside the industrial estates of the Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and the HSVP, there was a need to formulate a policy regarding the grant of change of land use permissions in the agriculture zones.

Red category

• ‘Red category’ (polluting) industry can be set up in all zones except hyper potential zone
• General warehouses, besides the agricultural warehouses, allowed
• Industrial clusters can be set up in an area ranging from 2 to 25 acres
• Individual industry to be set up in area ranging from 0.2 acres to 5 acres