Government gears up to facilitate investors

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 9

With at least 30 per cent industries which are planning to exit China eyeing India in the Covid-pandemic scenario, the Union Government has directed all states to facilitate such investors.

Additional Chief Secretary, Multipurpose Projects, Power and Industry, Ram Subhag Singh, said this while addressing officials of various departments from Una, Bilaspur and Solan districts here today.

Food processing

Solan in particular offers immense scope for food processing industries and efforts will be made to rope in maximum investment in this sector. —Ram Subhag Singh, Additional Chief Secy

He said the state was capable of providing ambient environs to the industries which were desirous of investing here. The challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic can be converted into an opportunity and he urged the investors to work in unison with the Union and state government to make the most of this situation.

Focusing on central schemes like Aatm Nirbhar Bharat (ANB), he said the micro small and medium sector enterprises have been offered immense credit facility under this scheme and it should help in development of this sector. He added that food processing was a major component of the Prime Minister’s ANB where a sum of Rs 10,000 crore has been earmarked to promote this sector.

Singh also addressed various concerns of the investors and directed the DC Solan and officials of the industries department to disseminate information about the industry-related policies of the state and the Central government aptly. Investment which reduces dependence on China and other nations like the pharmaceutical sector should be their key focus.

Allaying the fear of the investors, he said issues like seeking clearance under section 118 have been simplified. He directed the officials of the power department to reduce transmission and distribution losses which were a whopping 15 to 16 per cent and address issue of low voltage.

He also directed the mining officials to effectively check illegal mining as it was causing loss of revenue to the state exchequer.

DC, Solan, KC Chaman, CEO, Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority, Joint Director, Industries Department, Tilak Raj Sharma, DIC General Manager, Rajiv Kumar, SE Power Rakesh Thakur were present on the occasion.