Released with much fanfare in October last year, the new Industrial Policy-2009 of Punjab, which aims to give impetus to industry in the state, is yet to be notified in toto. One of the key features of the policy, which contains development of hotel projects and health tourism is yet to be notified.
On being asked about the issue, Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Manoranjan Kalia said, “The Industrial Policy-2009 has already been cleared by the state cabinet, so it be should be implemented in toto. But there are some bureaucratic impediments. So, in the interest of the Industry and the state, I brought into the notice of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and requested him to look into in the matter. In order to resolve the issue, the CM has directed the chief secretary to take up the issue with the concerned department. I expect that results will come out of the meeting and the matter would be resolved soon.”
“The result would be in the interest of the industry as well as the state,” said Kalia. It is worth noting that the Industrial Policy-2009, which was released in October 2009, after much delay, aims to attract new industries to the state. The new industrial policy has been drafted by seeking suggestions from United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido). It may be recalled that the state government had formulated industrial policies in 1978, 1982, 1989, 1992, 1996 and last industrial policy of Punjab was notified in March, 2003.
In the Industrial Policy-2009, the hotel projects like restaurants, amusement parks, heritage hotels, holiday resorts etc have been given the status of industry and concessions as admissible to industry.