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Govt. announces slew of measures for industry

Chandigarh: With Punjab set to see a new industrial policy by February, the State Government on Friday announced a slew of measures for the industrial units and investors in the State.

As part of the measures, the External Development Charges in the free enterprise zone covering industrial zone of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana, has been reduced from Rs. 53.51 lakh per acre to Rs. 5.50 lakh per acre, the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, told reporters here. He said the State will soon announce the new industrial policy.

The Chief Minister added there would be no Change of Land Use (CLU) charges on industry in Punjab. EDC has been reduced from Rs. 30 lakh per acre to Rs 1 lakh per acre.

Mr. Badal said that the industry would also include warehousing, logistics and IT parks.

Meanwhile, the EDC and CLU charges on petrol pumps and gas godowns has been reduced from Rs. 334 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh per acre in the periphery and from Rs. 175 lakh to Rs. 21 lakh per acre in medium potential zone and from Rs. 105 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh per acre in the low potential zone.

The industry in Punjab has suffered a setback due to tax concessions announced by the Centre for entrepreneurs setting up units in the hill States, he said.

Punjab’s neighbouring State are Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, which are a major cause of concern for the border state, Mr. Badal added.

The petrol pumps and gas godowns shall no longer be required to obtain CLU. The Deputy Commissioner has been authorised to give final no objection certificate (NOC), Mr. Badal said.

In a major relief to educational institutions, the charges have been reduced from Rs. 42.70 lakh per acre to Rs. 8.18 lakh per acre in periphery, from Rs. 38.50 lakh per acre to Rs. 6.94 lakh per acre around Municipal Corporation towns and from Rs 25.50 lakh per acre to Rs 1.79 lakh per acre in the rest of the state.

To encourage sports infrastructure in the State, the charges have been reduced from Rs. 57.84 lakh per acre to Rs. 50,000 per acre. It shall bring in latest golf courses, stadiums into the state.

The charges for hospitals and hotels have been reduced from Rs. 42.70 lakh per acre to Rs. 15.85 lakh per acre and from Rs. 25.50 lakh per acre to Rs. 3.33 lakh per acre.

In a major step to attract investment and channelise land from unproductive use into productive hands, hospitals, institutions, film/media centres and hotels have been allowed up to 25 per cent of the industrial component of industry parks.

Residential colonies, less than 10 acres, who had applied before July 17, 2007 shall be granted licenses, irrespective of size.

Standalone commercial centres, multiplexes shall now be allowed a minimum of 5 acres against the previous 10 acres. -- PTI

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