Industry policy seeks to make Delhi IT hub

NEW DELHI: The only claim to fame of Baprola village in west Delhi is that it’s home to Olympic bronze medalwinning wrestler Sushil Kumar. But that may soon change. According to Delhi’s much-awaited industrial policy, cleared by the state cabinet on Monday, two SEZs that it plans to set up in the village will show the path for future development of the national capital.

The policy, only the second for Delhi, seeks to give an entirely new thrust and direction to industrial activity in the city for the period 2010 to 2021. It says Delhi should develop a hi-tech , knowledge-based service sector and IT and IT-enabled service industries in the NCT to replace the small, lowskilled manufacturing units that dot the city today.

The policy lays special emphasis on development of the two SEZs at Baprola — one for gems and jewellery and the other for IT & ITES — as a showpiece for other industrial clusters to emulate. These SEZs would be pollution-free industries where workers would ‘‘ walk to work’ ’ and get all amenities within the neighbourhood.

The first and only industrial policy before this was announced way back in 1982. Over the decades, it seemed ill-equipped to handle the changing economic scenario.

An Industrial Makeover

Industrial policy for NCT of Delhi 2010-21 seeks to change city’s industrial profile from low skilled to high-tech.

Strategy to transform industry

Develop infrastructure for high-skill industries Facilitate business by simplifying norms Support skill development, allow knowledgebased industries in industrial areas Decongest existing industrial areas Promote cluster growth of clean industries Facilitate businesses to reorient to clean tech.