SHIMLA: The State Level Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Authority in its meeting held here under the Chairmanship of Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, late last evening granted provisional permission for setting up of 13 new industrial projects involving an investment of Rs. 278.31 crore and with employment potential of 1,838.

Addressing the meeting Chief Minister said that environmental issues and natural resources required to be taken into consideration while setting up of industrial units in addition to the interests of the local people in terms of employment and self employment opportunities in industrial sector. He said that during past two years a large number of multinational companies had shown keen interest in investing in the investment friendly environment of the State despite the global recession conditions. He said that Himachal Pradesh was being considered to be a safe destination for making industrial investments which needed to be availed of to the optimum. He said that the State was offering various incentives to the entrepreneurs in addition to the single window clearance facility where all the concerned departmental authorities grant clearances within a specified period of time to facilitate early execution of the industrial projects. He said that the objective behind constitution of the State Level Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Authority had been to process all the proposals in the meeting so that no time was wasted in completion of codal formalities.

Prof. Dhumal said that 70 percent employment to local people condition was required to be monitored closely by the concerned authorities so that whatever employment potential projected by the industrialists was actually being implemented in their operational activities. He said that the employment was required to be given at all level since there was no dearth of talented and professionally qualified unemployed educated youth in the State. He directed the authorities to ensure that minimum wages were being paid to the industrial workers. He also directed the authorities that the industrial houses be also motivated to participate in local welfare activities so that the people providing their land for industrial development were also compensated and benefitted with the economic activities. He said that the natural resources such as water and land needed to be utilised very cautiously so that only need based allotment of the same were made to the industrial projects. He said that the industrial houses be also motivated to recycle the used water so that the same could be utilised to the optimum.

Shri Kishan Kapoor, Industries Minister, welcomed the Chief Minister, and apprised him of the industrial development activities. He said that he had himself been visiting the various industrial sectors to see for himself whether the Industrial Policy Guidelines were being adhered to by the industrialists besides listening to the genuine grievances of the investors with regard to various official functioning.

Smt. Asha Swarup, Chief Secretary, said that hazardous industrial units were being discouraged which had adverse environmental impact and low employment potential. She said that eco-friendly industries were welcomed which could not only protect the environment of the State but also generate employment and self-employment potential to the local youth.

Shri Manoj Kumar, Director of Industries, welcomed the Chief Minister and conducted proceedings of the meeting.