Advisory council proposes 10 industry-specific clusters for Punjab

Council also agrees to a proposal to take over development of roads and parks as part of a Green Ludhiana initiative

The Punjab Investment Advisory Council today proposed establishment of ten industrial clusters at various locations in the state where land banks are already available to quick start investment in specific industries.

The Advisory Council meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, also agreed to a proposal by the Deputy CM to take over development of roads and parks in Ludhiana as part of a Green Ludhiana initiative which will be completely managed by the industry.

Advisory Council’s sub-committee on industry-chairman SK Munjal while presenting a report commissioned from the Boston Consulting Group by the Council said Punjab should focus on inviting interest in specific industries for which clusters could be established wherever land banks are available. The report highlighted that land banks are available are Batala, Pathankot, Amritsar, Mattewara (Ludhiana), Sirhind and Mohali etc.

Munjal stressed that besides identifying industries and clusters, the State must develop the eco system at all these places which the Deputy CM assured was already being done. Sukhbir Badal informed the Council that the State government was keen to establish clusters for the IT industry, agro processing industry, textiles, hand tools, healthcare and education.

The Advisory Council also agreed to a proposal by the Deputy CM to take over development of all major roads and parks in Ludhiana. Council member Rakesh Bharti Mittal said Punjab Industrial Adviser Kamal Oswal would be the Convener on behalf of the Council for this initiative. The Deputy CM requested the Council to form a committee for this purpose and come out with a mandate for greening Ludhiana by December 1.

Meanwhile while speaking about the new industry policy of the Punjab government as well as steps being taken by it to simplify investment, Munjal remarked that the Punjab government industrial policy was the most expansive industrial policy initiated by any State in the country. He lauded the government’s decision to appoint a CEO for the Bureau of Investment Promotion who would be empowered to take all decisions on mandatory clearances on behalf of various departments.