Himachal Govt gives in to renting out extra industrial space for new units

By: Ravinder Makhaik

Shimla: High powered single window authority has approved letting out built up industrial space in units which had come up in areas other than existing industrial estates and were saddled with extra area which could be used by other smaller units.

Manoj Kumar, director industries explained that the state laws permitted renting out space to ancillary units or other entrepreneurs for setting up on their units on premises of existing units but this facility was not available for those units, which had come up on agricultural land after the existing unit owner had obtained permission from the state cabinet under section 118 (state land law) to convert land usage for industrial purposes.

The high powered meet chaired by chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Wednesday approved relaxing of the conditionality, whereby now the industrial units outside existing estates would also be allowed to rent out their portion of their premises.

The director said, for such rented premises, the condition prevails that the existing industry would have to remain in production and the concern wanting to rent out a portion of the built up premises would have to obtain separate permission under section 118.

The issue was taken before the single window authority at the demand of various industrial chambers and was accorded approval, said Manoj Kumar.

Another issue discussed was about formulating a policy for arc furnaces, which have been banned in Parwanoo, Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh and Kala Amb areas.

The department was receiving either expansion proposals or increased demand for power in these areas and the government needed to take a comprehensive view on the matter, he said.

A committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary had also examined the matter and based on their report the matter would be decided at another meeting of the single window authority, he said.

Because of the uncertainty about extension of the industrial package beyond March 2010, the industry department was holding single window meets more frequently as early clearance was needed for execution of the project, said the industry director.

However, no new project proposal was cleared at the meeting on Wednesday.