Srinagar, Jan 5: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has regreted what is called ‘the sluggish pace’ in the development of industry in three northern districts of Baramullah, Kupwara and Bandipora in Kashmir region and has urged for an appropriate action plan to ensure balanced and equitable industrial growth in the area.
The grave instances of inequalities and lopsided development was brought to the attention of the Advisory Committee of FCIK in a meeting held at Industrial Estate Baramullah under the Chairmanship of Shakeel Qalander. The meeting, amoung others, was participated by Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Mehraj-ud-Din, Bilal Ahmad, Ghulam Mohammad Shah, Farooq Ahmad, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Tariq Ahmad in their capacity of being Presidents/Office bearers of Industrial estates of Sopore, Baramullah, Branwari Kupwara, Chotipora Handwara, Rudbugh Kupwara, Doabgah, Tulbal besides President of unorganised industrial sector Baramullah Imran Amir. The meeting was also participated by former FCIK President Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Syed Fazal Illahi, Shahijehan, Dr. Zain-ul-Abideen, Abdul Wahid Chishti and others.
The meeting was informed that while the districts of Baramullah, Kupwara and Bandipora were spread over 6967 square kilometers accounting to 44.89% of the total area of 15520 Square kilometers in Kashmir region, only 12% of the total industrial units in the region existing in these three districts was regretful. The representatives of industry from 7 industrial estates attributed the industrial backwardness in the three districts to the callous approach and lopsided planning by successive governments which had completely ignored these districts for establishing any strong industrial base.
The members informed that the authorities had miserably failed to set up any major industrial estate in the three districts for attracting investments and facilitating the educated youth to take up entrepreneurship as their means of livelihood. While Baramullah district had currently only three functional industrial estates spread over 339 kanals of land ( Baramullah: 58 Kanals; Sopore: 80 Kanals; Doabgah:201 Kanals), Kupwara had only two estates Branwari (16 kanals) and Chotipora (103 kanals). The two estates in Bandipora over 61 kanals of land had mostly remained in use with security forces over past three decades, informed the members.
Although the new industrial estates of Rudbugh over 85 kanals of kahcharai land was established in the year 2016, the land was legally transferred by J&K Administrative Council to the industries and commerce department only a month back. The industries and commerce department had received initial deposits and part premium from 12 entrepreneurs after approving their project reports in 2016-17, informed the concerned; adding that the land though demarcated was not being handed over to the concerned unit holders on one or the other pretext.
Javid Ahmad Bhat informed that newly established Tulbal industrial estate over 428 kanals of land was currently facing litigation from villagers despite the fact that allotment of industrial plots in the estate had already been made to 75 units most of which having paid the premium to J&K SIDCO.
The Advisory Committee, while acknowledging the under development of industry in the three districts assured the concerned representatives to take up their issues with the government. They said that the areas had great potential for industrial development given the huge mineral deposits and human resources available all over in the three districts. The Advisory Committee thanked the District Administration for identifying 2500 kanals of land in district Baramullah for setting up new industrial estates and hoped that the Administrative Council under the chairmanship of worthy LG will approve it at the earliest.
While endorsing the views of members on potential of developing one of the largest industrial estates in Bandipora district on huge state land available there, the Advisory Committee agreed to involve consultants for ascertaining the feasibility of such land for industrial purpose even though single story factory contained of light weight structures. The Advisory Committee will also take up the issue of Rudbugh and Tulbal estates with the concerned authorities in the government.
