U'khand cracks whip on defaulters

The Uttarakhand government appeared to have started cracking the whip on all those industries which are taking benefits of the tax holiday scheme but have not begun any construction or production.

A total of 20 industrial plots have been cancelled so far and all others, which have not started their production, are being given notices, top officials today said.

The plots of these industries were cancelled after they failed to start construction work at the industrial estates developed by State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL). While eight industries are from Haridwar, 12 are from Pantnagar, they said.

The plots were cancelled after Chief Minister BC Khanduri took serious note of all those industries, which were allotted industrial plots but did not start any construction work. The industries whose plots were cancelled include PSR Aqua, Gauri Shankar Alloy, Essar Jee Udyog, Veekay Polycot, Tarmit Shri Kunj, SB Industries and Indica Foods.

However, under the SIDCUL's policy, these industries can apply for restoration of their cancelled plots, the sources said.

Under these provisions, the government would ask all these defaulting industries to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 5 lakh and complete construction in six to nine months.

In case the industries fail to meet the provisions again, the allotment would be cancelled, the official said. This was being done after these industries gave fresh representation to SIDCUL pleading that their plots should not be cancelled and that they were ready to start construction immediately.

When contacted, government officials said nearly 15 to 20 notices had been served to various industries in Pantnagar which have not started production so far. These industries have been asked to start production immediately, the official warned.