Centre to provide 200 crore for industrial projects in Himachal

NEW DELHI: Centre will provide assistance of Rs 200 crore for industrial projects under various schemes in Himachal Pradesh, including for the setting up of two new industrial townships in the state.

The above decision was taken at a meeting of a high-level delegation led by HP Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma here today.

The two new state-of-the-art industrial townships at Kandrori in Kangra and Pandoga in Una district are to cost an estimated Rs 218 crore with central assistance of Rs 100 crore to be released during the current financial year. These projects are to come up under the scheme for modified industrial infrastructure upgrades.

The Union ministry also approved industrial infrastructure projects worth Rs 72.17 crore under the ASIDE scheme in the state for the setting up of an export warehouse and a composite pharma-testing laboratory at Baddi along with the upgrade of the power grid at the export promotion park there. The project to set up a common effluent treatment plant at Kala Amb in Sirmour district, too, received clearance.

The Ministry also gave its nod for a 10,000-MT capacity new apple juice concentrate plant by HPMC at Gumma in Shimla district at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. Upgrading of the existing HPMC apple juice concentrate plant at Parwanoo, at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore, was also cleared.

The upgrade would enhance the crushing capacity of the Parwanoo plant from an annual 10,000 MT to 20,000 MT.

The above decisions would make it possible to procure almost the entire quantity of apples produced in the state by the government under the MIS scheme every year.

It was also decided to consider other projects submitted by HPMC for the setting up of CA stores, packing houses and vegetable processing plants in Shimla, Chamba and Hamirpur districts.

The setting up of similar plants in the Kangra and Una districts were also agreed upon in principle, a state government release said.