Industries reach Uttarakhand hills

Malini Choudhary is among the new breed of entrepreneurs that is ready to invest in the remote hill areas of Uttarakhand, where industrialisation has remained a distant dream.

She is setting up an ayurvedic medicine manufacturing unit at Bhatwanisain mini industrial estate in Rudraprayag district, with an investment of Rs 1.31 crore.

Altogether, 28 entrepreneurs have been allotted plots in Bhatwanisain.

However, top business houses have still not shown any interest in these industrial areas, mainly owing to the expiry of the key excise incentive under the tax holiday scheme this year.

Bhatwanisain is one of a handful of mini industrial estates where investments have finally started pouring in. The estates were created more than 30 years ago, when the hill state was part of the undivided Uttar Pradesh.

According to the department of industries, a host of mini industrial estates — such as Dunda and Gawana in Uttarkashi; Lachhmoli in Tehri; Chilianaula, Bhikiasain and Dwarahaat in Almora; and Garud in Bageshwar — are for the first time witnessing industrial activity.

“Scores of mini units, mostly in the manufacturing business, are coming up in these industrial estates after a gap of more than 30 years,” said S C Nautiyal, additional director, industries department. “In course of time, you may see a different picture in these areas,” he added.

The State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (Sidcul), a state government enterprise that promotes industrial development, has been given the task of improving infrastructure facilities in the industrial estates.

Most of the new units are in the manufacturing line. According to an official estimate, investments are likely to double this year to Rs 250-300 crore in the hills. Last year, industrial proposals worth Rs 116 crore were cleared.

The new units that are coming up in the hills are in sectors such as food processing, ayurvedic medicines, mineral water, steel fabrication, furniture and herbal products.

The hill industrial policy offers a special VAT rebate of up to 90 per cent. An interest subsidy is also available to eligible enterprises on loans extended by banks and financial institutions.

With such attractive financial incentives, banks in these areas now have good opportunities of financing industrial activities, said Nautiyal.

Scores of companies and individuals have been allotted plots at other mini industrial estates also. And now, the government is taking steps to develop the remaining estates. One example is the Saronth industrial estate in Tehri district, which had remained undeveloped until now.