JAMMU: J&K government has made mandatory for all the industrial units functional in the state to employ local youth in “fixed proportions regarding which necessary modification have already been made in the Industrial Policy”, Industries and Commerce Minister, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, told the Assembly on Friday.
Replying to the discussion on grants for the departments and PSUs under his charge, in the Legislative Assembly, Kitchloo said at present about 20,000 people get their livelihood from industries directly or indirectly. He said the sector has still a vast potential for employment generation for which there was a need to create awareness among the youth about various special incentives and packages available under both government of India and state industrial policies in vogue. Now, it has been decided to launch a vigorous awareness campaign at block, tehsil and district levels for the purpose, he added.
Kitchloo said the single window system has been made more vibrant and hassle free as a result of which 722 micro and small scale units have been cleared besides allotment of about 1638.53 kanals for setting up industrial units. He said an Apex Project Clearance Committee headed by chief secretary has been constituted for clearance of projects costing Rs 5 crore and above for the convenience of entrepreneurs, adding that technical monitoring in industries centers has also been brought under more focus.
The minister said that revival of sick industries has also been taken up due to which 457 identified sick units in the state have been revived with assistance of about Rs 3.70 crore so far.
Kitchloo said that 19 new industrial estates are being developed in the state including nine in Jammu and 10 in Kashmir divisions raising the total number of industrial estates in the state to 67. He said 2061 industrial units have been registered in the state since 2000-09 with an investment of Rs 880 crore. He said, besides setting up new industrial estates, the existing estates are also being upgraded in a phased manner. He said price preference to SSI sector as marketing support will be implemented in letter and spirit adding that violators of these guidelines shall be dealt with sternly.
He also informed the House in reply of a separate question that 47 industrial estates have been establish in Jammu and Kashmir comprising 37143 industrial units so far.
Kitchloo said that a mega food park costing Rs 78 crores over an area of 400 kanals and a Mega Textile park at Grovidsar, Kathua on 200 kanals at a cost of Rs 18.84 crore are also being development to promote major industries in the state.
Kitchloo informed the House that an ambition Rs 160 crore Magnesite Plant at Panthal, Reasi which was struck for last 23 years has now been cleared to exploit huge reserves of dead burnt megnisite in the area.  
Earlier, the minister moved a demand for a sum of Rs 413.26 crore be granted to the Government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014 for department and PSUs under his charge.