'Himachal growth is not at cost of neighbours'

If the central industrial package helped growth in Himachal, it is not at the cost neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, claims a study.

The study has been carried out by Grant Thornton to find out the impact of the package in the region. It also looked into the need to extend the industry in the old form .

As a result of more incentives by the Centre to attract investors to set up units in the hill state, there has been a flight of industry from their states, Punjab and Haryana have been claiming.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Himachal wing has been citing this study, saying no perceptible change indicates that Himachal’s industry grew at a far faster pace than these two states .

In fact, on the basis of this study, C N Dhar, state CII chief, has demanded that the industrial package be revived on the pattern of another hill state in the region Jammu & Kashmir .

According to the study, Haryana has been performing better in the manufacturing sector. Haryana’s growth in this sector in the last two decades has been higher than the national average.