Uttarkhand asks Centre to enhance industrial package

The Uttarakhand government has urged the Centre to provide a more attractive industrial package on the patterns of the north-eastern region.

Chief Minister BC Khanduri in a letter to the Union Finance Ministry has urged that the new package would give more fillip to the industrial process in the state which has attracted investments of Rs 26,000 crore so far.

"I have written a letter to the Centre urging them to award a more attractive industrial package comprising more excise and income tax exemptions to Uttarakhand on the lines of north-eastern states package," Khanduri said.

Uttarakhand, which is already enjoying the central industrial package till March 2010, needed a more attractive package as its geographic conditions are quite difficult and it is industrially backward like the north-eastern states, Khanduri said.

Khanduri's move to seek enhanced package came despite various concessions and incentives provided under the central industrial package which has also made the state industrial policy as investment-friendly during the past 5 years.

Development of three integrated industrial estates at Haridwar, Pantnagar and Sitarganj, Pharma city at Selaquie, IT Park at Dehradun and Growth centres at Kotdwar have mostly been possible in the state in the light of the industrial package.