Jammu and Kashmir Government has set in motion an exercise to retrieve un-utilised industrial land allotted to industrialists across all the industrial estates in the Union Territory.
A senior official of the Industries and Commerce Department informed that the process to retrieve the land from industrialists or unitholders who have failed to utilise it for operationalising their units within the stipulated time would be recovered from them.
“There are many instances where the unitholders have failed to start their units for which the land was allotted, or in some cases, the unitholders have shut their activities while they continue to have possession of the land within premises of industrial estates,” he said. The official added that the government would begin an eviction drive for retrieval of such land to be allotted to new investors who are willing to set up their units under the new Industrial development scheme announced by the government.
In this regard, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce department, PrakashRanjan has ordered nomination of General Manager, Regional Office SIDCO Jammu, General Manager Regional Office SIDCO Kashmir as Estate Officers for eviction process concerning cancellation of lease deed and eviction of the allottees in the industrial estates.
“… sanction is hereby accorded to the nomination of following officers as Estate Officers one each for Jammu/Kashmir divisions for eviction process concerning cancellation of lease deed and eviction of the allottees in the Industrial Estates managed by J&K SIDCO,” reads an order issued.
The officers will work under the supervision of Managing Director SIDCO, the order mentions.
Earlier this year, the central government approved a new industrial development scheme for the Union Territory with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore.
The scheme will remain in force from the date of its notification till 2037. The government aims to take industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir to the block level.
Officials informed that the un-utilised land after eviction from existing leaseholders would be allotted to unitholders under the new Industrial policy. “ Government has two-pronged strategies: on one hand new industrial estates are being established while on the other hand unutilised land in prime industrial estates is also being retrieved.”
The scheme will encourage new investment, substantial expansion and nurture the existing industries in the Union Territory. It will also employ 4.5 lakh people besides leading to equitable, balanced and sustainable socio-economic development.
The new scheme provides for capital investment incentives at the rate of 30 per cent in Zone-A and 50 per cent in Zone-B on the investment made in plant and machinery (in manufacturing) or construction of the building and other durable physical assets.
