Advisor Baseer Khan visits Silk Park and industrial estate Zakura

Srinagar: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today visited Zakura Silk Park and Zakura Industrial Estates where he reviewed the status of Infrastructure, functioning of manufacturing Units and the facilities available to the unit holders.

 Advisor had round of various units- wool spinning, wool weaving, Cotton & Silk Power Looms, Water tank manufacturing factory & hardware producing Units and interacted with the Unit holders.  The unit holders highlighted their issues and projected demands to the Advisor that needed immediate attention.

 Advisor gave on the spot instructions to Director Industries to come up with a detailed proposal indicating requirements of the Industrial Estates and the demands put forth by unit holders.

 Advisor said  that upgradation of Power supply with separate feeder for uninterrupted electricity will be provided. He further added that Deep Drainage system, Guest House and dispensary along with other  basic infrastructure shall be developed on priority. The overall development of the Industrial Estate has to be taken up immediately for the betterment of the Industrial environment in the Estate in consonance with the prevalent state-of-the-art industrial setup across the nation.

He said the Industrial Estates across the Union Territory of J&K have to be Industry friendly with paramount focus on ease of doing business and standard Industrial work culture. He said the unit holders shall be provided continuous supply of electricity, proper medical facilities, fire tenders, ATMs and other amenities that would give real picture of Industrial work culture in these estates.

While reviewing the status of Infrastructure available at Zakura Industrial Estate, Advisor observed that several components  have to be upgraded for the overall development of Industrial Estate. He remarked that the development of Interior approach roads, uninterrupted electric and  water supply have to be the prime focus of Industries department to ensure that the basic minimum facilities are provided to unit holders.

The Advisor was accompanied by Director Industries and Commerce, Nazim Zai Khan, General Manager DIC Srinagar, General Manager SICOP and other officers.

Advisor Baseer Khan on the occasion held threadbare discussion with the officers,  representatives of Silk Park unit holders and  Industrial Entrepreneurs Association regarding the functioning of the units, Sources of raw material, Marketing of products, Ease of doing business, Brand promotion and other aspects.

The Advisor said that the Ease of Doing Business in real sense is being implemented now in the Union Territory of J&K with the new provisions set into place. He said that Lieutenant Governor has been very proactive and stress has been laid to support the Industrial sector through direct intervention making Ease of Doing Business a dream come true.

For the promotion of Handicraft and Silk products outside J&K, Advisor said that a long list of exhibition programmes are in pipeline and that it will have   multipronged advantages to the Industrial unit holders dealing with manufacturing of Silk and woven products. Besides, he said, ‘on the road kiosks’ exhibiting products of Jammu & Kashmir shall be put up along the routes of Amarnath yatra. This will showcase the indigenous products of J&K and give flip to the sales at such sale centres.

Advisor informed that LG is  keen to promote the Handicraft and Industrial Sector and is pushing for various measures in this regard.

The unitholders requested for the Promotion and Uppgrading of the Kashmiri Designs and demanded some policy to encourage Brand promotion by the Government.

They also apprised Advisor for making Common Facility Centre operational in the Industrial Estate for the facilitation of the unit holders. They also demanded Insurance policy to cover the fire damages and snow damages as well.

Advisor said the Insurance of the industrial units is very essential to support the Entrepreneurs from hazards.

The Advisor ensured the unit holders that all the genuine demands shall be addressed and fixed time lines shall be given to each problem for proper redressal.  The Advisor directed the concerned officers to setup infrastructure for medical dispensary, Office Chamber for Entrepreneur association and a Guesthouse for technical experts hired by unit holders visiting the Industrial estate.

Unit holders represented by FCIK President Shahid Kamili on the occasion expressed gratitude to the LG and Advisor Baseer Khan for taking wide range of Industrial friendly measures to help Promotion and Development of Industrial Sector which is emerging as one of the main source of employment generation in J&K. (KNS)