SRINAGAR: Yielding to pressure from opposition parties and separatists, Jammu and Kashmir government today modified its Industrial Policy to make only State Subjects eligible for developing private industrial estates and industrial parks in the state.
“Jammu and Kashmir government today ordered modification of Industrial Policy-2016 with the deletion of controversial para 2.11.2 from the said policy,” an official spokesman said.
In partial modification of Government Order No.58-IND of 2016 dated 15.03.2016, para 2.11.2 of Industrial Policy-2016 shall be deemed to have been deleted ab-initio and shall be read as; Private promoters only from the State (including local industrial associations) shall be allowed and encouraged to develop private industrial estates/parks on commercial lines on activity-specific cluster basis over an area of at least five acres.
“In case of IT Parks, the minimum requirement will be two acres for housing IT units in flatted accommodation,” the spokesman said quoting an order issued by the Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Department.
The spokesman said while the government will go all out to attract investment in Industrial Estates or elsewhere in the state by providing an enabling environment and incentives, it would be ensured that these are governed by and are in compliance of J&K s existing administrative practice, regulatory norms and the Constitution of J&K.
The Industrial Policy had come under severe attack from opposition parties as well as separatists, who had decided to carry out a campaign against it.
The critics were of the view that the policy will weaken the special status of the state by allowing outsiders to engage in industrialization.
It further said while the government will go all out to attract investment in industrial Estates or elsewhere in the State by providing an enabling environment and incentives, it will be ensured that these are governed by and are in compliance of J and K’s exsting administrative practice, regulatory norms and the Constitution of J and K.