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| U'khand CM threatens dharna |
| Shishir Prashant / New Delhi/ Dehra Dun Nov 09, 2009, 00:04 IST |
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With Uttarakhand seeking extension of the special industrial package by another 10 years, a war of nerves is brewing between the Centre and the state government, with Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank threatening to stage dharna in New Delhi over the issue.
Nishank surprised the Centre by demanding extension of the package, (expiring on March 31 next year), till 2020 at various fora, including his recent meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.
But now, the sources close to the CM said, he would stage a dharna in New Delhi. The exact date of the dharna would be announced later, the sources said. In this regard, Nishank has also launched efforts to rope in Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P K Dhumal, who also wants the extension of the package, which was given to both the states in 2003.
But till date, no action has been taken by the Centre over the issue, official sources said here today.
However, Union Minister of State for Labour Harish Rawat, an MP from Uttarakhand, has also agreed with Nishank’s demand that the tax breaks should be extended. “The Centre will extend this package,” Rawat said adding a notification in this regard would soon be issued. Other Congress MPs from Uttarakhand have also supported the demand.
Expectations are high in Uttarakhand that the Centre would extend the special industrial package for at least three more years to spur industrial growth in the hill state.
Nishank, along with various industries’ associations, had slammed the Centre saying the industrialisation process would suffer as just eight months were left for the expiry of the package. “We are disappointed as the Centre failed to address the issues pertaining to industries, particularly related to the tax breaks given to Uttarakhand,” Nishank said.
Following the special tax holiday scheme of January 2003, an industrial boom was witnessed in Uttarakhand where top-notch companies like Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Nestle, Mahindra & Mahindra, Britannia, LG set up new units to take the benefits of the various tax incentives given by the Centre.
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