Union minister of commerce and industry Anand Sharma, representing Himachal Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, on Saturday assured to take up during the Budget session the issue of extending the special incentives being offered to the state.
The Himachal Pradesh government has been struggling to get an extension for the special incentives, which will end on March 31, 2010. Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had also met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in this regard.
Assuring the state government, Anand Sharma said, “Himachal Pradesh deserves special concessions and as a representative of the state, I will make sincere efforts to get the special package for industry. We have prepared recommendations for introducing stimulus packages to push the industrial growth of the country and will not forget the needs of Himachal Pradesh. However, the state has been encouraging industries that are damaging the ecology and also do not contribute much to the state’s economy. There is a need to identify industries that need to be promoted, according to which a special stimulus package could be worked out.”
“Himachal has immense potential in the tourism sector and the industry and government should come together to create a congenial environment to attract tourists. I would also try to get incentives for tourism in the state,” he added.
The state had received special incentives by the Centre on January 7, 2003. The income tax benefit will expire in 2012 and subsidy on capital investment will also finish in 2013. An end to the incentives would certainly hamper the growth of industrialisation in the state. Sharma was in Shimla for the concluding session on “Unforgettable Himachal: Opportunities Unlimited”.