Himachal got Rs.11,663 crore in industrial investment: Minister

Himachal Pradesh has accorded approval for setting up 219 industrial units with an investment of Rs.11,663 crore in the past three years and they have generated over 22,000 jobs, state Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said on Saturday.

The industries-by-invitation approach of the state has received good response at investors' meets held recently as the state received 41 new proposals involving an investment of Rs.2,724.33 crore, he said in a statement.

He said 60 project proposals were also received for expansion of existing projects involving an outlay of Rs.1,355.57 crore.

Slamming BJP leader and former two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal over his remarks over "slow pace" of industrial development in the state, the Congress minister said three state-of-art industrial areas were being set up in Una and Kangra districts.

Agnihotri said that despite the withdrawal of incentives provided to the state under the special industrial package like central excise duty and income tax holiday for new industrial units, the state has provided various incentives, including reduction in the rate of electricity duty and rationalisation of entry tax.

He asked the BJP leader why had he not taken up the issue of extending the state's industrial package with the central government.