Industries department principal secretary Alok Kumar Sinha at the meet in Patna on Saturday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, April 14: The Bihar Industries Association (BIA) on Saturday urged newly appointed industries department principal secretary Alok Kumar Sinha to set up a private industrial park for entre-preneurs willing to set up units and announce benefits to encourage small- and medium-scale industries.

“No one can deny the role of manufacturing sector in the state’s development. I would convene a meeting of department officers and BIA representatives within 10-15 days to discuss problems and bottlenecks being faced by the industrialists,” Sinha assured the BIA members during an interactive session.

He appreciated the industry body’s suggestion of setting up of a private industrial park and resolve the land rows faced by the entrepreneurs willing to set up industrial units.

The principal secretary added that he would try to resolve the problems of the entrepreneurs through proper co-ordination among the departments concerned.

Association president KPS Keshri, in his welcome address, sought a level-playing field for domestic industrial producers and demanded that the government accord priority in making purchases from small and medium enterprises. However, the existing rule stipulates that entrepreneurs, who have have a turnover of Rs 5 crore in the past three years, can only take part in the tender process.

The facility of compounding scheme should also be extended to small industries of up to Rs 1 crore, Keshri said, adding that the government must establish air cargo facility for perishable commodities keeping in mind the phenomenal growth of vegetables in the recent past.

“The government should take steps to set up its own mining company,” the BIA president said, adding that it would enable the government to have its own coal block necessary for thermal plants.