Uttrakhand industries to benefit from SC's decision on NOCs

Over 700 industries will benefit from the Supreme Court's order allowing the Uttarakhand government to issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs), a move welcomed by business chambers.

"As of now, the apex court order will allow us to issue NOCs to nearly 700 new units, of which nearly 400 would be able to start production," a top government official said.

Some of the topnotch industries like Bajaj Auto, ITC and Tata Motors, which are set to start production, will be the major beneficiaries through the new order. While scores of industries could not establish their new units, others could not start production following the stay imposed by the Supreme Court early this year.

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Uttarakhand government to grant NOCs to the industry for setting up units in the state in accordance with environment laws.

Both the industry and the state government had sought vacation of the stay order restraining the Pollution Control Board to issue NOCs to the industry.

The state government also hailed the Supreme Court's decision saying it would surely give a boost to the industrial growth in the state. "Through the new Supreme Court's order we would be able to give fresh impetus to the industrial process," the official said.

According to a government estimate, the new industries can create nearly 100,000 jobs.

Uttarakhand received investments worth Rs 26,000 crore during the past three years in the wake of the special tax holiday scheme granted by the Centre.

Three new industrial estates, Haridwar, Pantnagar and Sitarganj, have come up in Uttarakhand where top companies like Nestle, Britannia, Mahindra & Mahindra have already started production taking the benefit of excise tax exemptions and other sops. Besides this, the government is also setting up IT Parks and growth centres in the state.

But following the stay imposed by the Supreme Court on the issuance of NOCs, the Opposition had dubbed Khanduri "anti-industry", alleging that it was hampering industrial growth in the state.

Meanwhile, various chambers, including the Kumaon-Garhwal Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) and the Uttarakhand Industry Association, have welcomed the decision.