Himachal readies to welcome investors, but land an issue

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, October 22

Himachal Pradesh is leaving no stone unturned to attract investments in the state ahead of the investors’ summit, but it is unable to meet the land demand of the potential investors.

The government is once again considering reviving its proposal to develop 515-bigha Dabhota area as a hub for the new industrial units, which is close to the existing Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) region. An earlier move in this direction was, however, failed because of environmental concerns, government officials and industry executives said.

The investors’ meet is slated to take place at Dharamsala in February next year. It is, therefore, pertinent to ensure the availability of land in the regions that have the potential to attract investors. Therefore, the Dabhota project will be re-looked at and efforts will be made to seek requisite clearances on a fresh basis, Director Industries Hansraj Sharma said.

Dabhota is an ideal place because it is near the BBN region, the hub that houses 89% of the state’s industries. Its proximity to Chandigarh and availability of a good road network has made it the most sought-after area for the investors, industry experts said.

The HPSIDC has barely one plot of 5,472 sq mt left at its Dhavni industrial area. While efforts are being made to acquire a patch of 4,400 bighas at Bir Plassi in  Nalagarh, but being a forest land, an environmental clearance would have to be sought, said SDO Vinay Thakur.

As resuming unused industrial plots of the Industries Department is a Herculean task, there is a need to create a fresh industrial hub at Dabhota, the experts said. The development is, however, difficult because diversion of forest land for a non-forestry purpose requires mandatory environment clearance, they added. The proposal was first submitted in 2015.

The creation of this new industrial area was slated to provide large-sized industrial plots to new investors. They are, however, not willing to acquire private land as the process is uneconomical and time consuming, the experts said. Besides, they are also required to seek clearance under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972.