CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Minister of State for industries, Karam Singh Gill, on March 4, informed the Vidhan Sabha that the state government had approached the Center for a five-year tax holiday for industry in the state.

Winding up the debate on the nonofficial resolution passed in the House recommending the state government to approach the Center for setting up more heavy industry in the state, Gill said the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, had recently made this request to the Prime Minister, P.V.Narasimha Rao.

Gill said the Chief Minister had agreed to provide about 1,000acres of land to Shri Ram group of industries on the Rajpura Patiala road for setting up chemical complex, He informed the House about the various concessions being extended to entrepreneurs under the new industrial policy.

Earlier, moving the resolution, Jai Kishan Saini (Cong I) stressed the need for setting up more heavy industry to provide employment avenues as unemployment was increasing in the state.

“Now the situation in the state has improved and taking benefit of it, the government must invite industries and Nonresident Indians to set up heavy industries,” Sainisaid. The government should seek the help of the Center also in this regard.

The resolution got support from the members cutting across party lines. Speaking on it, members demanded setting up of an atomic power plant and Gumam Singh Dhirowal (CPI) said if Rajasthan could have it, why not Punjab which offered better conditions for an atomic plant.

Hargopal Singh (BSP) said the Punjabis who were known Lo put hard work in industries abroad, could contribute, a lot if employed in domestic industries, Mrs.Malti Thapar (Cong I) said the state offered tremendous scope for a variety of industries, Tarsem Jodha (CPIM) suggested that possibility of producing more liquor, eggs, fish and glucose should be explored but warned against converting the country into a trader by reducing custom duty. The Janata Dal member Vijay Sathi also demanded an atomic power plant.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 12, 1993