Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga said that Government was keen to bring industrial development in the State. The Minister undertook an extensive inspection tour of south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Anantnag districts. The Minister was accompanied by Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control and Power Department, Syed Farooq Ahmed Andrabi, Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce, Shailendra Kumar, Director Industries and Commerce Kashmir, Nazim Khan, Director Handlooms, Rajesh Sharma and others. Inspecting the Industrial Growth Centre Lassipora, Pulwama, the Minister reviewed the progress of construction of bund which was sanctioned with multiple purposes of restoring waterways in the flood effective areas, providing protection from consecutive floods, and reclaiming and consequently expanding the industrial area by adding approximately 1,000 – 1,500 Kanals of land under the flood safeguards. The Minister directed administration to conserve the green belt around the construction site from both construction and mining activities as such belts are necessary to mitigate the climatic changes that occur in association to projects of such scale. He was also apprised on the moratorium on commercial mining as per the guidelines enshrined in SRO 105 in effect for three month period. Visiting IGC Lassipora, the Minister took serious note of delay in execution of the projects. He issued directions to the construction team and General Manager SIDCO to strictly adhere to the project timeline with its July 1, deadline by ensuring an enhancement in the deployment of machinery and human resource. A weekly progress report in this regard was also ordered for keeping a tight vigil on the progress of the construction. Once the 400 Kanals CPC is fully established, 30 units will be allotted plots of different dimensions to enhance the production capacity of the industrial estate. Taking stock of developmental projects at Industrial Estate, Vessu Qazigund, Chander Parkash Ganga scrutinised the procedure of allotment of 176 plots to the prospective unit holders. The Minister also issued instructions to cement plants while surveying the upcoming unit of JK Cement at Athwajan. Other matters taken up included scarcity of electricity, pending lease deeds, eco-friendly machines and infrastructure, retrieval of land under encroachment, broken fencing and alike.
