WE THE PEOPLE
Failure of Industrial Development in Kashmir Valley quite intriguing, needs detailed study by high profile Experts
People demand implementation of Industrial Policy 2004 to remove regional disparities to ensure equitable development
By: Ahlam Masoodi
Srinagar: A casual survey of Industrial Development of the State of J&K will establish beyond any shadow of doubt that Kashmir valley has failed to make any dent into the industrial sphere whileas there has been appreciable development in the Jammu region, which calls for detailed probe and technical study by a team of Experts of proven integrity to identify the causes for such a lop-sided development. People connected with the Industry accuse the State Government of its failure to implement the Industrial Policy-2004 and charge it with discouraging entrepreneurs to set up industrial units in the valley.
It is a fact that despite climatic limitations and non-availability of power supply, Kashmir Industrialists struggled hard and set-up units in various industrial estates of Kashmir Valley, but they received a severe set back immediately after eruption of militancy in the State. Some of the industrialists had come from other States of the country and had set-up their industrial units in the Valley, but had to wind up the same after the Valley was caught by turbulence. On the contrary, Jammu region has gone up very high on industrial map because of favourable scenario and there is wide spread network of industries, producing goods of different varieties. These industries have also turned into a big absorption basin for educated and skilled youths in that region.
Pertinent to state that it was on January 23, 2004 when Jammu and Kashmir Government accorded approval to `Industrial Policy-2004’ and to provide stability to the said policy, it was decided that it shall remain valid up to March 31, 2015. It was emphasized to promote local employment in the industrial units of the State so that the gap between the employment and unemployment gets narrowed down. Stress was also laid on ensuring that the incentives and subsides reached the genuine industrialists without much loss of time. The Policy aimed at developing world class infrastructure for speedy industrial development with emphasis on inviting private sector to participate in the infrastructure development. With a view to encourage industrialization of the backward blocks of the State, the Capital Investment Policy (CIS) under State’s incentive package was supposed to be extended to these blocks. The CIS is very attractive, as the rate of subsidy is 30% percent subject to the limit of Rs.30 lakhs.
It is equally a fact that environmental protection has become an issue of global importance so to protect the same, the government was supposed to install effluent plants on industrial belts, but this has not been done in most of the industrial estates, giving rise to pollution level which is unheard in any industrial development programme.
“The State Government has not been fair to the local industrialists of Kashmir Valley as is evident from the industrial map of Jammu region today. We were deprived of incentives and subsides which were allowed in case of our brethren across Banihal tunnel. Moreover the Revenue Department has also played an unfair game by delaying process of acquisition of land as has been pointed out by the Audit. It has come to our notice that nearly Rs 32 crores stand advanced for land acquisition from September 2000, but are pending with the revenue authorities for the last so many years. The delay in finalization of land acquisition cases has proved to be a major constraint in maintaining the flow of investment and sustaining pace of industrialization in Kashmir Valley. The Government has also failed to provide us stable power supply and dependable water supply to our units so far. We don’t have effective road connectivity with our units, causing there by lot of inconvenience while transshipping our products to the markets. The government has also failed to create good markets for our products,” said groups of small scale Unit holders of Kashmir valley.
People, especially connected with the industry demand implementation of Industrial Policy 2004 to remove regional disparities and to ensure equitable development the sooner this is done the better!
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