Punjab Government on Thursday offered management of municipal services in 140 towns of the State to the investors.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, addressing a galaxy of investors and members of the trade and industry at CII’s ‘Invest North Conclave’ at New Delhi, said that investors would be given the unique opportunity of building, operating and maintaining these services for a fixed tenure of five to 10 years.
“We want all these 140 towns to have all basic facilities like quality water, roads, sewerage and lighting within a span of one year,” he said while adding that this project would be completed at a cost of Rs4,000 crore.
Asserting that the process of outsourcing municipal services had already started, Sukhbir said that Shapoorji Pallonji had been given charge of municipal services in Bathinda while Trivani Industries had been given charge of a part of Amritsar city.
Giving details of the right investment atmosphere in the State and availability of cheapest power anywhere in the country besides being the “number one State” as far as ease of doing business was concerned, Sukhbir said, “We now have a power generating capacity of 12,000 MW and are in a position to sell excess power.”
Sukhbir announced that a number of steps had been taken to ensure industry did not face any harassment. “We have decided that no inspector will be allowed to enter any factory premises,” he said, adding that process of clearances for setting up shops had been made completely hassle free, best air and road connectivity, among other things.
SOUGHT PERMISSION TO SEll POWER TO PAK
Sukhbir said that the State Government is creating a department to sell surplus power and has even sought permission from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to export power to Pakistan and other neighbouring countries.
“I am requesting the Prime Minister. Pakistan was in need of power and there were talks. I said, we can offer power not only there (Pakistan) but to any other country,” he added.
UNION MINISTER PATS PUNJAB for new vision
Appreciating Punjab’s efforts to do away with age-old legislations and undertaking unique initiatives regarding investment projects, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman said that the need of the hour is to implement reformative initiatives so as to ensure the success of ‘Make In India’ and ‘Digital India’ campaigns launched under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She also asked the industrialists to invest in the country as India has ample opportunities.