Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday sought the support of the industries in Delhi for addressing the issue of housing for the poor whose dwelling units dot the various industrial clusters across the Capital.
Speaking at the release of the new Industrial Policy for Delhi 2010-2021 at Delhi Secretariat, Ms. Dikshit said the public-private partnership route has been taken for preparation and implementation of the new policy for making the industrial areas clear and pollution free. “The Government also wants to work on the housing aspect with the industry,” she added.
“I have been to several industrial areas and the jhuggi clusters there present a very bad sight. Some residential accommodation is needed in these areas and we want to do housing with you,’’ she told the large number of office-bearers of various industrial associations who were present at the release of the new industrial policy.
Acknowledging that foreign buyers also visit these dilapidated industrial areas, Ms. Dikshit said: “It is a matter of shame that we have not been able to improve them’’. With the new industrial policy, she expressed hope that the industrial areas would become clean and pollution free.
“We are trying to bring a policy that along with growth provides a clean and environment-friendly atmosphere to the industries, creates jobs and proves to be a model for the rest of the country,’’ she said.
Stating that the State Government had been trying to bring this policy for the past five to six years – as the last policy had come in 1982 – Ms. Dikshit insisted that apart from being a vision document, it was also a “policy of intent’’. “What has been spelt out, will be implemented,’’ she assured.
Delhi Industries Minister Haroon Yusuf said the policy has been designed keeping in mind the opinions, interests and concerns of various stakeholders. ``It is a part of the initiative taken 12 years ago by the Sheila Dikshit Government to reduce pollution,’’ he said.
Stating that many industrial areas were suffering from neglect due to paucity of funds, the Minister said the policy intends to address the issue. He also assured that the Narela Industrial Area would be made a model area within a year’s time.
Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta and Secretary-cum-Commissioner (Industry) Chetan B. Sanghi also spoke at the programme.
It was also mentioned that the new Industrial Policy envisages operation and maintenance of existing industrial areas and development of new industrial areas on public private partnership basis and it also seeks to make Delhi a global hub for clean, high technology and skilled industries.
Further, to remove multiplicity of organisations, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation has been given the task of owning and managing all the existing and new industrial assets in Delhi.
