Plot allotment linked to jobs: Khanduri

Industries providing maximum employment and revenue to Uttarakhand would be given preference in the allotment of industrial plots, Chief Minister B C Khanduri today said.

More than two months after the state government announced its land allotment policy, Khanduri said the new allotments would be done by studying each proposal.

Khanduri’s comments assume significance as nearly 106 proposals from various firms including ITC, IGL, Delta and others are pending before the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL).

“I stick to my stand that firms beneficial for Uttarakhand should be given preference,” Khanduri told Business Standard.

However, he did not say when the pending proposals would be cleared. “This has to be done through a case by case study,” he said.

In the new land allotment policy, the government had set up a committee headed by the chief minister to clear the new industrial proposals to keep the entire process transparent.

After declaring its land allotment policy, SIDCUL had invited proposals from industries with July 31 as a deadline. It received 100-106 proposals but so far no decision has been taken despite criticism that the government was sitting on these proposals, which are mainly for expansion.

Under the new policy, the price of an industrial plot will now be 125 per cent more than the last highest bid price in that particular notified industrial area. This is being interpreted as nearly 200 per cent increase in industrial land prices since the last bidding process in 2006.

Sources said a substantial chunk of land was still available at the key Haridwar, Pantnagar and other industrial areas, which are being developed by SIDCUL. According to estimates, nearly 300 acres of land is available in both the Haridwar and Pantnagar industrial estates.

With the concessional industrial package (CIP) coming to an end on March 31, 2010, the government is keen to generate more revenue and create employment opportunities since scores of industries are ready to buy land.