After dilly-dallying for several years, the UT Administration on Wednesday finally announced its first industrial policy aimed at generating employment opportunities in the city.
Governor of Punjab, Haryana and UT Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki unveiled the industrial policy in the presence of Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher and UT top brass.
On the occasion, the Governor said that the objectives of the industrial policy is to promote non-polluting industry in Chandigarh and to maximise production, achieve higher productivity through modern and efficient work techniques and optimum utilisation of available resources.
In order to facilitate the industry, the administration will start common application form so as to reduce the paper work through single window system by October 2. The administration would start self certification under various Acts of the labour law and exemption would also be given from inspection there under. Also, VAT forms would be issued online, added Governor.
Under the industrial policy, certain additional activities such as IT/Electronics Hardware/ Software/ITES units have been allowed in industrial areas. The industrial plots lying vacant in Industrial Area would also be allotted in accordance with the policy framed by the Administration.
The city remained without an industrial policy for the past two decades. In 2009, a draft policy was prepared, but it was never finalised. Spread over 1,475 acres, phases I and II of the Industrial Area came into existence in the 1970s.