Uttarakhand to ok state`s 3rd largest industrial estate

"The proposal regarding the Kashipur industrial estate will be put up before the SIDCUL Board for final approval in a week or two," a top official yesterday said.

After Haridwar and Pantnagar, the Escorts Farms industrial estate will be the biggest in the hill state with SIDCUL deciding not to hire any private consultant. For the development of infrastructure and other facilities at the industrial estate, SIDCUL is in talks with the state PWD department and the Jal Sansthan.

The government estimate suggests that the new industrial estate can attract an investment of over Rs 5,000 crore. The detailed project report (DPR) of the new industrial estate, which will be set up in 530 acres, has been prepared by IL&FS.

There will be nearly 145 industrial plots up for grab at the industrial estate. Out of 145 plots, 79 would be of one acre, 29 of four acres and the rest are of different sizes. Experts here said SIDCUL, keeping in view the difficulty faced by the industries in hiring skilled workers, should also set up a knowledge park in the state and talk to private players in this regard.

Since Escort Farms falls in the non-notified area, the government is expecting only thrust industries to set up their new units there. Escort Farms was at the centre of a controversy in 2006 after the state government decided to take back the land from settlers.

But despite an agitation by the settlers, the government managed to free land holdings from 600 acres. Now, this particular land will be used to develop the industrial estate, the official said.