Over 300 industrial plots in state wait for investors

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 20

More than 300 plots with an area of over 4.95 lakh sq metres across the state have not been allotted to industrial units due to uneven topography, lack of approach and steep gradient.

There are 67 industrial areas in the state having 3,594 plots. While 3,289 plots have been allotted, 305 spread over 4,95,488 sq m are lying vacant.

No allotment has taken place in the past six months.

Among other places, key areas where plots have not been allotted include Chanour in Kangra, Jais in Shimla, besides Barotiwala, Thana and Kirpalpur in Baddi.

Even the areas, like Kirpalpur in Baddi, where plots have been allotted are plagued with various issues. In the area adjoining the Sarsa river, majority of 14 vacant plots were washed away last monsoon, while some undeveloped land parcels were under dispute. Local residents are demanding facilities like playground as they have village rights over land measuring 15,000 to 20,000 sq m. As such, these plots cannot be allotted.

Investors have not evinced much interest in securing the vacant plots, even as buying private land was a costly proposition and entailed tedious and time-consuming process of getting clearance under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.

Though there are Central government schemes providing funds for developing industrial clusters, these require the state funding of 10, 20 or 30 per cent.

Given the grim financial situation it is in, the state government was unable to spare funds, opined an official in the Industries Department.

Even in the much-hyped Pandoga industrial area developed in Una district, 14 plots measuring 21,400 sq m were lying vacant, while 61 of the 75 plots had been allotted. In Amb, 33 plots measuring 51,650 sq m were awaiting allotment. Out of 81 plots carved out in Amb, 48 have been allotted so far.

Similar is the situation at Mamlig, where of the 43 plots that have been carved out, 29 plots measuring 28,765 sq m await allotment.

Director Industries Rakesh Prajapati, when contacted, said efforts were afoot to develop civic amenities as the demand kept coming for the industrial plots, especially in Solan, Sirmaur and Una districts.

In the biggest district of Kangra, 147 plots were lying vacant. There was a little demand in new areas like Chanour where 95 of the 98 plots were vacant and in Kandrori, where 39 of the 113 plots awaited investors.