Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Hajj and Auqaf, PHE and Power Development Departments, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi has emphasized upon the officers of the Industries and Commerce Department to work with integrity and zeal for the development of industries in the State. He called for facilitating young entrepreneurs to setup industrial units in the State.Reviewing the functioning of I&C, Geology and Mining Departments and JK Minerals Ltd at a meeting here today, the Minister underscored the need for putting in place the necessary mechanism to make the system more transparent and hassle-free. He said while the government will play its role as a regulator to enforce proper checks and balances on the quality and quantity of the products that reach the market, every effort will be made to minimize the touch-points between the department and the industry to make the process less cumbersome."With minimum intervention a better industry-friendly interface would be developed that would boost the local industry," the Minister maintained.The Minister said that government's priority is to ensure quality of spending and making effective changes for improving the revenue generating capacity of the sector keeping in mind the long term perspective goal for achieving tangible results and improving the economy.The Minister asked I&C Department to facilitate the credit flow to young local entrepreneurs in the state. “Our focus should be on our own budding entrepreneurs as much as it should be on big investors,” he added.
Director Geology and Mining, MD JK Minerals, Joint Directors I&C Jammu, Joint Director Finance I&C Department, Director Finance JK Minerals and General Mangers of DICs were among other senior officers attended the meeting.During the meeting discussions were also held on how to scale down the percentage of non-functional units.The Minister asked the officials to hold frequent interactions with the industrialists in order to access the issues they are facing and to resolve them in a time bound manner.The Minister was also apprised about the land acquisition process of various Industrial Growth Centers and the process of identifying the land for the IGCs.Joint Director, Industries & Commerce, Jammu, Mr. Mahinder Singh apprised the Minister about the working of the department. The Minister was informed that 20 Industrial estates have been established in Jammu division out of which 12 are being managed by DIC, 5 by SICOP and 3 by SIDCO.It was also informed to the Minister that out of 1982 industrial units, 1118 are functional, 343 are non-functional and remaining 521 are under implementation.Status of new Industrial Estates under development was also discussed in the meeting which includes Ghatti (Kathua), Silk Cluster Thanda Pani (Rajouri), Industrial Estate Majalta (Udhampur), IGC Samba Phase – III, Lambheri (Rajouri), Surankote (Poonch), Beoli (Doda), Nimbla (Reasi) Kundhali Mohalla Pochhal (Kishtwar), Dambra (Billawar), Tajoor Majalta (Udhampur) and Hiranagar in Kathua.The Joint Director informed the meeting that 12294 small scale units are registered so far in the Department with the investment of Rs 2244.81 crore adding that 63060 persons are getting employment by these units in Jammu Division.
The Director informed the meeting that Rs 1.84 crore sanctioned as incentives to 13 unit holders under State package and margin money of Rs 7 crore sanctioned to 405 unit holders under PMEGP during current fiscal so far.Cross-LoC trade issues were also discussed in the meeting along with the issues pertaining to the development of infrastructure at Chakan-da-Bagh, Poonch.The Minister directed the concerned officials to complete the work at Trade Facilitation Center on priority and in time bound manner.Meanwhile while reviewing the activities of Geology and Mining and JK Minerals Ltd., the Minister said to harness the mineral wealth of the State Geology Mining and JK Minerals should work with synergy to carry out a comprehensive survey in the State.The meeting was informed that work is apace on Rs 202 crore magnesite project at Panthal, of which, Rs 55 crore have been spent on the execution of various infrastructure works.The Minister asked the officers to ensure effective mechanism is put in place for scientific exploration of minerals in eco-friendly manner ensuring sustainable development and promotion of mineral based industries in the state.Director Geology and Mining apprised the Minister that the department envisages exploration of mineral resources and ground water in the state. He also informed that about 13334 sq kms of area of the state is mineral bearing area and 60 percent of the deposits are commercially viable for mining.