KULGAM, MAY 13(KMW):Â Emphasizing upon building a Land Bank for setting up hi-tech industries that attract huge investments, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today highlighted the scope of industrial sector in absorption of our technically-skilled workforce.
He was speaking during his visit to Vessu, 15 km from here, where he took stock of ongoing work on creation of common facilities at the 250-kanal Industrial Estate, which is being developed by SICOP as a fully-funded State project.
The Chief Minister also visited the Transit Accommodation for Kashmiri Migrants, which has been established in 2010 at Vessu.
Minister of State for PHE, I&FC, Animal Husbandry & Forest, Abdul Majeed Paddar, MLA Kokernag, Abdul Rahim Rather, MLA Dooru, Syed Farooq Andrabi, Financial Commissioner, I&C, Khursheed Ganai, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Bashir Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, R. K. Bhat, Director, Industries & Commerce, Kashmir, Nazim Khan and MD SICOP, R. L. Tickoo were present on the occasion.
Stressing upon expediting laying of common facilities at Industrial Estate, Vessu, Mufti Sayeed called for establishing high-tech and eco-friendly industries which encourage huge investment in private sector and create ample opportunities of employment for our skilled local youth.
Mufti Sayeed said the present age is that of technopreneurs who, besides running sustainable industrial ventures, also create job opportunities for locally-trained skilled people.
Describing the location of Industrial Estate Vessu as ideal, the Chief Minister asked Financial Commissioner, I&C, to showcase the site to top-end entrepreneurs who are willing to invest and set up viable manufacturing units. “Once the Estate becomes functional, the unit holders will find transportation of raw material supplies and marketing of finished products easy as the Estate is in close proximity of the National Highway and the Railway Line,†he elaborated.
The Financial Commissioner assured the Chief Minister that the work on common facilities including laying of roads, electrification, water supply and drainage system will be completed by J&K SICOP by the end of November this year. He said IE, Vessu, is a fully-funded State project for which Rs. five crore have been released till now for development of landscaping and common facilities and an additional Rs. five crore will be provided to make the Estate operational.
The Chief Minister directed the I&C Department to keep a provision of a Land Bank for upcoming Industrial Estates in the new State Industrial Policy, which is being announced shortly.
While briefing the Chief Minister about the upcoming Industrial Estates in the Valley, Director I&C said one of the biggest Industrial Estates in South Kashmir is being established at Mehmoodabad (Dooru) on 107 kanals of land. The Chief Minister passed immediate directions for macadamizing the Qazigund-Dooru road via Mehboodabad to provide connectivity to the upcoming Industrial Estate.
It was given out in the meeting that new Industrial Estates are being established at Anchidora and Bijbehara in Anantnag, Malwan in Kulgam and Gagran in Shopian district.
Earlier, while visiting the Transit Accommodation for Kashmiri Migrants at Vessu, the Chief Minister issued directions for improving quality of potable drinking water, establishing a dispensary and ensuring regular supply of ration and cooking gas to the families staying in the Transit Accommodation. He also asked the Relief Commissioner (Migrants) to establish a model primary school.
The Vessu Transit Accommodation was set up on 100 kanals of land in 2010. Till date, 214 quarters have been built in which 240 families are presently living.
On the issues of providing childcare facilities and payment of HRA, the Chief Minister said he will get both the issues examined on priority.
