Amid a lot of special concessions granted by the State Government to the entrepreneurs under the hill industrial policy, imposition of electricity surcharge has not come as an encouraging factor to promote industrialisation in remote and hill regions across the State.
Industrialists particularly the small scale entrepreneurs of Bageshwar district, have demanded concession in the said surcharge, saying the said electricity surcharge is a very burdensome for the small scale industrialists having their units in remote an rural areas of the district.
Taking up the matter with the Bageshwar district administration, the entrepreneurs of the rural and remote areas of Bageshwar have maintained that imposition of the commercial electricity surcharge on us is quite burdensome. However, keeping in view the concerns of the entrepreneurs who are running their industries in rural and remote areas of the district, Bhupal Singh Manral, District Magistrate, Bageshwar, has assured them to address their concerns.
At the same time, the District Magistrate, has also asked the officials concerned to look into the issue related to the electricity surcharge and impose the said surcharge as per the rule.
Meanwhile, the District Magistrate, Bageshwar, has called upon the entrepreneurs to set up industries as per the available resources and demand for the same in the local market. That kind of approach will not only help promote traditional and local industries but also provide employment to the needy, added Manral.
Besides, the District Magistrate, has also called upon the entrepreneurs to make the most of different schemes introduced by the Government for the entrepreneurs under the hill industrial policy.
Traditional small scale industries like copper, candle can also be potential scope for investment. Therefore, entrepreneurs must set up these traditional industries, the officials concerned of the Bageshwar district administration have called upon the entrepreneurs. It is to note that certain concessions granted under the ambitious hill industrial policy seem to be the main driving force behind this industrial growth even in hilly terrain of Nainital. It is worth mention here that apart from 20 per cent subsidy on capital investment, 6 per cent subsidy is also granted on interest of loan under this hill industrial policy.
Besides, the entrepreneurs are also granted 75 per cent subsidy or off on power bills upto 100kv and 50 per cent concession on power bills upto 500 kv.
More so, from 75 per cent to 90 per cent concessions are also provided on VAT to the industrialists under this hill industrial policy. Entrepreneurs are also granted concessions on stamp duty in land purchasing under this industrial policy.