FCIK sounds alarm on stagnant industrial growth in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 5: Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) expressed deep regret over the sluggish pace of industrial development in the northern districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora in  Kashmir.

The FCIK has called for immediate and decisive action to rectify the situation and promote balanced and equitable industrial growth in the Valley.

According to the FCIK statement, the three northern districts, despite their immense potential, have witnessed stagnation in industrial development, raising alarm bells for the FCIK. The federation highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue to ensure economic prosperity and opportunities for the local population.

The statement said that the grave instances of inequalities and lopsided development was brought to the attention of the Advisory Committee of FCIK in a meeting held at Industrial Estate Baramulla under the Chairmanship of Shakeel Qalander.

The meeting, among others, was participated by Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Mehraj-ud-Din, Bilal Ahmad, Ghulam Mohammad Shah, Farooq Ahmad, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Tariq Ahmad in their capacity of being Presidents/Office bearers of Industrial estates of Sopore, Baramulla, Branwari Kupwara, Chotipora Handwara, Rudbugh Kupwara, Doabgah, Tulbal besides President of unorganised industrial sector Baramullah Imran Amir.  The meeting was also attended by former FCIK President  Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Syed Fazal Illahi, Shahijehan, Dr Zain-ul-Abideen, Abdul Wahid Chishti and others.

"The meeting was informed that while the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora were spread over 6967 square kilometers accounting to 44.89% of the total area of 15520 Square kilometers in Kashmir region, only 12% of the total industrial units in the region existing in these three districts was regretful. The representatives of industry from 7 industrial estates attributed the industrial backwardness in the three districts to the callous approach and lopsided planning by successive governments which had completely ignored these districts for establishing any strong industrial base."

The members informed that the authorities had miserably failed to set up any major industrial estate in the three districts for attracting investments and facilitating the educated youth to take up entrepreneurship as their means of livelihood. While Baramulla district had currently only three functional industrial estates spread over 339 kanals of land ( Baramulla 58 Kanals; Sopore: 80 Kanals; Doabgah:201 Kanals), Kupwara had only two estates Branwari (16 kanals) and Chotipora (103 kanals). The two estates in Bandipora over 61 kanals of land had mostly remained in use with security forces over past three decades, informed the members.

Although the new industrial estates of Rudbugh over 85 kanals of kahcharai land was established in the year 2016, the land was legally transferred by J&K Administrative Council to the industries and commerce department only a month back. The industries and commerce department had received initial deposits and part premium from 12 entrepreneurs after approving their project reports in 2016-17, informing the concerned; adding that the land though demarcated was not being handed over to the concerned unit holders on one or the other pretext, the statement said.