Focal Point project of PSIEC fails to take off

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, July 21

A Focal Point project of Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation Limited (PSIEC) that was launched about five years ago in 227 acres here has failed to take off.

Under the project, around 400 industrial plots were carved out in a land near Modern Jail Kapurthala, but there have been hardly any takers for these. Barring a food processing plant of the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) that is slated to be launched in another three months, no other industrial unit has come up here.

Gurmit Singh, Sub-Divisional Engineer, said, “Around 17-18 plots have been purchased in the area and till now, only the ITC's project is coming up on 82-acre land.”

As a result, the area has now become home to algae. The foul smell emanating from the stagnant water that has been accumulated in the plots is unbearable. Standing here for more than five minutes becomes impossible. The area, which was supposed to become an industrial hub, now seems like a forsaken place where in the plots, electric poles have fallen and sewerage pipes are yet to be laid.

Officials of the PSIEC said businessmen were not interested in buying the plots in the area as they think that starting an industry here would not be viable.

Many persons who have taken plotS are thinking of reselling these. One of the industrialists from Jalandhar, Mohit Chawla who said he had gone to see the site in Kapurthala and found out that it was not worth to apply for it.

“Who will go there and open industry? Jalandhar is the main centre and it will not be possible for us to expand our work in Kapurthala,” said Chawla.

Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab had visited the site on Saturday to check the pace of the project. He said he intended to give the project a fillip again after consultation with the officials concerned. “I do not think that the location is an issue here as the site can also be reached via Kartarpur. The ITC food park will attract more industries here once it gets started,” he said.

An official of the ITC said, “We intend to begin the first phase in September. We will manufacture various packaged food items, including biscuits, snacks, noodles, juices and wheat flour.”