STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Wednesday emphasised the need for building a land bank for setting up hi-tech industrial estates to attract investment and absorption of technically-skilled workforce in the State.
“There is a need for establishing high-tech and eco- friendly industries to encourage huge investment…and create ample opportunities of employment for our skilled local youths,” Sayeed said while taking stock of ongoing works on creation of common facilities at the over 30-acre Industrial Estate at Vessu in Kulgam district.
He said the present age is that of technopreneurs who, besides running sustainable industrial ventures, also create job opportunities for locally-trained skilled people.
Describing the location of Industrial Estate Vessu as “ideal”, the chief minister asked the officials concerned to showcase the site to top-end entrepreneurs who are willing to invest and set up viable manufacturing units.
“Once the Estate becomes functional, the unit holders will find transportation of raw material supplies and marketing of finished products easy as the Estate is in close proximity of the national highway and the railway line,” he said.
Accompanied by a team of ministers and senior officers, he also visited the transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrants, which has been established in 2010 at Vessu.
The Chief Minister directed the Industries and Commerce Department to keep a provision of a land bank for upcoming industrial estates in the new State Industrial Policy, slated to be announced shortly.
Vessu Industrial Estate is a fully-funded state project for which Rs five crore have been released till now for development of landscaping and common facilities and an additional Rs five crore will be provided to make the Estate operational.
Earlier, while visiting the transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrants at Vessu, he issued directions for improving quality of potable drinking water, establishing a dispensary and ensuring regular supply of ration and cooking gas to the families staying in the transit accommodation.
He also asked the Relief Commissioner (Migrants) to establish a model primary school there. The Vessu transit accommodation was set up on over 12 acres of land in 2010. Till date, 214 quarters have been built in which 240 families are presently living.
