The ambitious hill industrial policy that the State Government launched in 2008 keeping in view the aspirations of the hill people and more importantly, potential scope for developing micro and small scale industries in the hilly terrain, seems to have come in handy for it in achieving its goal.
The interesting fact is that as the figures provided by the district industry centre (DIC), Nainital, suggest, there were about 1443 industrial units set up in different parts of the Nainital district in 2009, now the number of the industrial units mainly small and micro scale industries has gone upto 2122 so far this year in 2013.
Among other factors, special 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. 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, said Anil Kumar Pandey, General Manager, DIC, Nainital, while talking to The Pioneer.
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, he added, from 75 per cent to 90 per cent concessions are also provided on VAT to the industrialists under this hill industrial policy. “At the same time the entrepreneurs are also granted concessions on stamp duty in land purchasing. Therefore, we are of the view that these special concessions given under the hill industrial policy have come in handy in promoting industrial activities in hill areas,” added the GM.
More importantly, keeping in view scope for promoting small and micro scale industries and more importantly to encourage people particularly youngsters for self-employment, now the State Government has also covered plain areas of Nainital district including Haldwani and Ramnagar under this hill industrial policy.
Thus inclusion of Haldwani and Ramnagar areas now under the hill industrial policy has definitely helped in pushing the growth of the small and micro scale industries at the local level, the GM , DIC, Nainital, further said. It is also to note that according to the industrial status to the hotel industry has also helped the State Government in expanding industrial activities here. Increasing number of hotel and resorts coming up in Nainital’s Bhimtal and Ramnagar areas only give that impression.
The matter of fact is that Nainital district’s Ramnagar and Bhimtal areas are now increasingly becoming hub of the hotel and resorts. More so, covering plain area of Nainial district like Ramnagar also under the hill industrial policy has only led to growth in hotel and resorts in recent years.