CM seeks industrial package on J&K lines from Centre

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has sought a special industrial package for Himachal from the Central Government. He called on Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in New Delhi yesterday evening and requested him for the grant of a special industrial package for Himachal.

Sukhu said that to ensure balanced regional development in the hill state, it was the need of the hour that a special industrial package on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir and north-eastern states should be provided to Himachal. He also urged Goyal for the resumption of the earlier transport subsidy scheme for hilly states like Himachal Pradesh keeping in view high logistic cost due to rugged terrain. He added that this would go a long way in promoting industrial production and boosting exports.

The Chief Minister also requested Goyal to provide funds for industrial infrastructure development projects, quality testing labs and certification labs for export promotion. He urged the Union Minister to release the pending amount of capital subsidy under the Industrial Development Scheme and sanction the pending cases.

The Union Minister assured Sukhu that the issues raised would be examined and that all possible support to the state would be extended. Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani and other senior Officers of the state attended the meeting.