Shimla: Atul Sharma, Vice Chairman, HSIDC has thanked the Union Government for sanctioning central assistance amounting to Rs 200 crore for industrial projects under various schemes of the Central Government.

He said that this has been possible due to consistent efforts of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. He also thanked Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma for approving this assistance for the State. He said that these projects would go a long way in the development of the State.

Atul Sharma said that approval of two new state of the art industrial townships under the modified industrial infrastructure upgradation scheme at Kandrori in Kangra district and Pandoga in Una district with an estimated cost of Rs. 218 crores would further strengthen the efforts of the government in giving boost to the industrial activities.

He also thanked the Union government for approving industrial infrastructure projects amounting to Rs 72.17 crore under ASIDE scheme in the State for setting up of export ware house project at Baddi, composite pharma testing Lab at export cluster Baddi, up-gradation of power grid in export promotion park at Baddi and setting up of common effluent treatment plant at Kala Amb in Sirmour District.

The Vice Chairman thanked the Union Ministry for approving setting up of 10,000 MT capacity new apple juice concentrate plant by HPMC at Gumma in District Shimla and upgradation of the existing apple juice concentrate plant of HPMC at Parwanoo. By setting up these plants, it would be possible to procure almost the entire quantity of apples produced in the State by the Govt. under the MIS scheme every year.

Sharma also thanked the Union Minister for granting approval to provide one time relaxation in respect of pre-registration of tourism elated projects for availing central investment subsidy and for agreeing to release Rs. 25 crores for meeting out the pending liabilities under the central investment subsidy and Rs. 36.83 crores under Central Transport Subsidy.