Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor KK Sharma today directed for framing a comprehensive mechanism to effectively promote Small, Medium and Large scale industrial sector in the Union Territory so that entrepreneurs are given the requisite ecosystem and effective implementation of various schemes is also ensured along with employment generation in UT.
The Advisor was speaking at 139th Board of Directors (BoD) meeting of J&K Industrial Development Corporation Ltd ( JK SIDCO). He asked the Corporation for coming up with a prospective vision besides an effective strategy so that it becomes more vibrant and effective in tune with the modern trends and mechanisms.
Financial Commissioner, Finance, Arun Kumar Mehta; Commissioner/ Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi; MD SIDCO, Ravinder Kumar; Directors of Industries, Jammu/ Kashmir, Anoo Malhotra, Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director General Planning, Sahibzada Bilal and other senior officers of SIDCO were present.
Advisor Sharma directed for immediate completion of 16 CETPs across all the industrial areas to address the environmental concerns of the areas. He said that the requisite funds to the tune of Rs. 132 Cr for the purpose have been already allotted and the work should also be fast paced on other infrastructure related issues across all industrial estates in the UT.
The Advisor while taking a serious notice of those entrepreneurs who have been allotted the plots and are yet to start their units maintained that they should be identified so that these can be allotted to new prospective and upcoming entrepreneurs. “Amnesty would also be considered to those who start their units at the earliest,” he added.
While highlighting the need for establishing five new industrial estates in Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Samba, Udhampur etc, in the newly created UT, the Advisor said that it would eventually help in generating employment opportunities in the region and providing suitable land to all investors.
Calling for maintaining transparency and efficiency in the working of the Corporation, the Advisor said that the Corporation should effectively discharge the mandate given to it so that the industrial scenario in the region is catalyzed. He said strict action would be taken against the erring officials who are involved in malpractices and deadwood also be identified.
The Financial Commissioner, Finance, A.K Mehta informed that Government of India has earmarked Rs. 100 Cr. for industrial development of UT of J&K and advised SIDCO to explore the schemes for expeditious development of Industrial Sector on modern lines.
The Commissioner / Secretary Industries & Commerce, M.K Dwivedi highlighted the vision of the Corporation and informed the Board that SIDCO is progressing towards achieving ISO: 14002 and ISO 9001 certification, shall be implementing e-office in 6 months time, switching to computerized accounting system from April 2020, while as all the offices and Estate are being put under CCTVs for effective monitoring and enhance security.
At the onset, MD SIDCO, Ravinder Kumar, presented Board agenda and informed that at present there are 11 industrial complexes , with 26,731 kanals of land, 2,736 units, and employment generation of 60,236.
Meanwhile, Advisor Sharma directed for making the Public Sector Units (PSUs) of Jammu and Kashmir more vibrant and financially viable so that they can effectively contribute to the economy, besides creating the much-needed employment opportunities.
The Advisor was speaking while chairing the 102nd Board of Directors (BoD) meeting of JK Cements Limited (JKCL).
The Advisor said that making PSUs more vibrant and financially viable is imperative for their sustenance. He said that bottlenecks if any in the smooth functioning of these PSUs should be eradicated by adopting new technological interventions and scientific methods.
The Advisor directed JKCL to venture out in the open market for selling its quality cement brand to private institutions and construction houses, so that the dependency on government sales is reduced.
It was decided that the languishing projects of JKCL shall also be considered for release of adequate funding so that the projects are run optimally for its enhancement.
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