J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K receives Rs 2,000 cr worth proposals
SRINAGAR, Aug 16 —Investment offers totalling Rs 2,000 crore have been received by the Jammu and Kashmir Government following the announcement of its new industrial policy.

Zainab Begum is dead
SRINAGAR, Aug 16 — Former Jammu and Kashmir minister and veteran freedom fighter Zainab Begum died here today, family sources said.

J&K receives Rs 2,000 cr worth proposals

SRINAGAR, Aug 16 (PTI) —Investment offers totalling Rs 2,000 crore have been received by the Jammu and Kashmir Government following the announcement of its new industrial policy.

On the anvil are projects worth Rs 41 crore of the Manjiri group, Rs.51 crore of Shastri Food, Rs 35 crore of Pepsi Cola, Rs 1600 crore of Gujarat Heavy Chemicals, Rs 2.62 crore of Prozone Antipollution Devices Pvt Ltd and Rs 20 crore of Khyber Karim Spun Silk, an official spokesman here said.

Some of the projects have been cleared by the state government while others were under consideration. A Rs 43 crore project of Fungicides India Ltd for setting up an apple juice concentrate plant has already been commissioned while a memorandum of understanding was recently signed between sidco and Software Technology Park of India (STPI) for setting up a Rs 9 crore Software Technology Park at Rangreth in Srinagar.

Seven other projects, including the Chenab Textiles expansion plan involving Rs 3 crore, lnj (Bhilwara Expansion) for Rs 10 crore, Singer India for Rs 5 crore , Jai Beverages for Rs 27 crore, Tramboo Cement Khunmoh for Rs 10 crore, Khyber Karim for Rs 20 crore and Alba Power for Rs 3 crore are under implementation.

Four centrally sponsored schemes are under implementation for creating basic infrastructure for rapid industrailisation. These schemes include a Rs 30 crore Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) at Samba, a Rs 54 crore IGC at Lassipora in Pulwama district, a Rs 13.87 crore IIP at Kartholi, Jammu, besides a Rs 250 crore project at Udhampur, Jammu and a Rs 13 crore food park at Khunmoh in Srinagar, he said.

He said a new eco-friendly industrial policy has been launched which aims at bringing new technologies, reactivate closed units, optimum usage of human capital in the state and fresh investment with the primary objective of generating employment.

The new industrial policy offers an incentive package to industralists which includes 30 per cent capital investment subsidy with a maximum limit of Rs 30 lakhs and Rs 45 lakh in case of capital investment in thrust areas, the spokesman said, adding that in prestigious units the capital investment subsidy is available up to Rs 75 lakh in thrust areas and Rs 60 lakh in units with capital investment of Rs 25 crores.

In addition, land is allotted on lease for a period of 90 years in the industrial estates on subsidised premium and 50 per cent subsidy is given at the time of availing the loan for construction. Besides, 100 per cent subsidy will be given for diesel generator sets of 10 kws and above, the spokesman said.

He said promoters are allowed to set up captive hydel generating stations/thermal power generating stations in the state which are entitled for exemption of electricity duty/state excise for a period of 25 years.

Zainab Begum is dead

SRINAGAR, Aug 16 (PTI) — Former Jammu and Kashmir minister and veteran freedom fighter Zainab Begum died here today, family sources said.

Zainab, 84, was among the first Kashmiri women to discard the ‘purdah’ (veil) and take active part in the Quit India and Quit Kashmir movements.

Zainab, sister of former Chief Minister Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, organised a women’s resistance force during the Pakistan invasion in 1947 and 1965 in the valley.

She also played an important role in the state politics and held several posts in the JKPCC.

Zainab was associated with various social organisations and became member of the Legislative Assembly from the Amira Kadal constituency (1972-77).