Industry watch: CM plans strategy

Chetan Chauhan

New Delhi, September 17

After meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, chief minister Sheila Dikshit called a meeting of her cabinet colleagues on Thursday to chalk out strategy to save industries in the Capital.

According to sources, Dikshit briefed ministers about her interaction with the Prime Minister and discussed future strategy.

It is learnt that the chief minister wants the government to go slow on the closure of industries. The meeting went on for about an hour and most of the ministers reportedly favoured a pro-industry stand to prevent an anti-Congress wave in the city.

After the meeting, Dikshit met the Solicitor General of India to discuss the stand the state government should take in the Supreme Court.

The Delhi government apparently wants the Centre to inform the apex court of its willingness to amend the Master Plan so that 24 non-conforming areas can be declared industrial zones.

Dikshit also cancelled her meeting with Lieutenant-Governor B.L. Joshi for the weekly briefing.

Meanwhile, the Industries Department has prepared a draft of the affidavit to be filed in the Supreme Court. Officials say the affidavit is likely to be filed in the court sometime next week.

The government is seeking three months time to conduct a scientific survey of industries in non-conforming areas to get exact figures of areas where the concentration of industries is high.

The Delhi government also wants some industries, especially those that have been declared hazardous, to be shifted into the National Capital Region. This will be decided at the NCR Planning Board meeting scheduled for next month.

The affidavit will also have a status report on the number of industries closed so far. Industry Department officials say the SDMs have not been asked to stop the industry-closing drive yet.

“They are doing their work as per the court’s orders,” an official said.

Affidavit details

• Three months time for a survey of industries in non-conforming areas.
• Paucity of land in Delhi to relocate industries.
• Options to be looked at in NCR.
• Sufficient time should be given to industry owners to shift.