BJP government gave land at throwaway prices to industrialists, waived stamp duty: CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today accused the previous BJP government of giving out state’s valuable resources to investors at a pittance. He said that his government would look into the grant of concessions to industrial houses as part of a customised package by the previous BJP government.

Sukhu said, “We will probe into the grant of a customised package by the previous BJP government to some investors with 100 per cent exemption in stamp duty, subsidised power and water and take action accordingly.” He alleged that hundreds of bighas were given to industrialists at Re 1 per square metre and the state government would look into it.

An agitated Opposition objected to Sukhu’s remarks and started raising slogans and later walked out of the House amid pandemonium. The issue came into focus when Jaswan-Pragpur MLA Bikram Singh raised a question during the Question Hour in the Vidhan Sabha regarding the total industrial investment in the state from January 2023 till now and the number of units that had shut operations.

The Chief Minister said that the state government would amend the Industrial Policy, 2019, and give incentives and concessions, including subsidised power, to industrialists to attract more investment and generate employment.

Earlier, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan informed the House that 380 projects with an investment of Rs 5,891 crore had come to the state since January 2023. Besides, the expansion of 205 old industries at a cost of Rs 5,600 crore had taken place, he added.

The minister said that 115 industrial units had closed operations, resulting in 3,350 people losing their jobs. “Out of the 115 units, 55 have resumed operations after takeover by new investors and provided jobs to 3,918 persons at an investment of Rs 512 crore,” he added.

Chauhan said that the Industries Department had taken part in three investors’ meets held in Mumbai, UAE and Shimla. “A total of 24 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed in Shimla with an investment of Rs 6,210 crore, leading to the creation of 7,438 jobs,” he added. He claimed that the bulk drug park was being set up at an investment of Rs 10,000 crore and it would create 15,000 jobs.

Chauhan said that the government would take action if the BJP government had given concessions to investors that were not in line with the terms and conditions.