SICOP has 591 surplus employees: Govt

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 29: The Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that SICOP has 591 surplus employees following the cessation of its Marketing Wing and Raw Material Depot activities, even as J&K SIDCO is facing a shortage of regular manpower, particularly due to retirements.

The disclosure was made by the Industries and Commerce Department in reply to a starred question tabled by MLA Chander Prakash Ganga.

According to the Government, SICOP has a sanctioned strength of 445, including 128 permanent employees, while 317 posts are vacant. It said the 591 surplus staff have been engaged on 89-day arrangements.

J&K SIDCO, meanwhile, is facing a shortage of regular manpower, mainly due to retirements.

To address the shortfall, the Government said surplus SICOP employees, along with personnel from J&K Cements Limited, have been deployed in SIDCO against identified manpower requirements.

It said skilled manpower was also being engaged through outsourcing wherever required to meet SIDCO's operational requirements and ensure smooth functioning.

The Government further informed the House that 30 surplus employees from other corporations have been deployed or utilised to augment manpower in corporations facing shortages.

The deployment, it said, was made against identified requirements to ensure efficient functioning.

On another issue, the Government said an anti-encroachment drive had resulted in the retrieval of 45 kanals of encroached SIDCO land at Balol, while the remaining encroached land was still being pursued with the District Administration.

The department said it had taken up the matter with the District Administration through communications dated June 16 and August 29, 2026, and was pursuing the issue for early retrieval of the remaining land.

On the proposed comprehensive Industrial Policy, the Government said the revised draft Industrial Policy is at the final stage of consideration and is expected to be notified after completion of the requisite formalities.

The draft had been placed in the public domain for suggestions and comments from stakeholders, the Government said.

A committee headed by the Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, was subsequently constituted through Government Order No. 468-K(GAD) of 2026 dated March 23, 2026, to examine the feedback received.

The committee has since held several rounds of meetings with stakeholders, it added.