Mini industrial estates in U'khand suffer

There are 18 mini industrial estates in the hill region under govt control, with six of them remaining totally undeveloped. Each of the six was to be developed on one to three acres of land

Several mini industrial estates in Uttarakhand, which were either proposed or developed when it was a part of Uttar Pradesh, are now in a state of total neglect, particularly in the hill region.

Last year, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had given the task of developing all such mini industrial estates to the State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (Sidcul), a nodal government body for industrial development in the state.

But the change of government has interrupted the momentum, and there has been no progress under the Congress administration.

Sidcul officials claimed that the district industrial centres (DICs) that control these mini industrial estates had objected to their transfer to Sidcul. On the other hand, top government officials remained skeptical about making investments to develop these industrial estates, claiming that the returns would not be enough.

“Sidcul is a commercial organisation and should not invest in places where the industrial climate is bad,” said a government official.

According to the department of industry, there are 18 mini industrial estates in the hill region under government control, with six of them remaining totally undeveloped. These are Gawana, Purola and Mori in Uttarakashi district, Chinyanaula in Almora, Ragwar in Dehradun, and Buakhaal in Pauri.

Each of the six was to be developed on one to three acres of land. Due to neglect by the government, industrial units have not been established in these industrial estates.

Even in other areas, like Dunda in Uttarkashi district, which is known for its handloom products, there is hardly any devel opment. Incessant monsoon rains have also wreaked havoc in the industrial areas. In Dunda, 24 industrial plots are lying vacant. There is no basic infrastructure like roads and electricity in Dunda, which has potential as a cluster.

However, there is a trickle of investments in industrial estates like Garud in Bageshwar district and Bhatwanisain in Rudraprayag district. “People are showing interest in setting up new units in all such mini estates, but we have to develop them in order to make them more attractive,” said Harish Chandra Durgapal, the state small-scale industry minister.

“Scores of mini units 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.”

Veteran BJP leader and former chief minister B C Khanduri, who is credited with bringing in the hill industrial policy of 2008, has asked the Congress government to develop all neglected industrial estates. “We brought the hill development policy but now the onus is on the new government to take new initiatives,” said Khanduri.

The condition of some industrial estates in the plains is no better than those in the hills. For example, Chharba in Dehradun district lacks basic infrastructure facilities.