Patna, Aug. 22: Industries department minister Renu Kumari Kushwaha today criticised banks for their non-co-operation in extending loans to the entrepreneurs of the state.

“Banks have not lived up to the expectations vis-à-vis loan sanctioning. It is painful to see their indifferent attitude towards sanctioning or granting loans under Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana or any other scheme,” she said.

The minister was speaking at a function organised by Bihar Industries Association (BIA) to felicitate industry department’s principal secretary C.K. Mishra on the association premises.

Industries department director Bimlanand Jha, BIA secretary general Vivek Goenka, BIA former president and Amrapali Foods managing director KPS Kesri, GISCO (steel company) managing director Sanjiv Choudhary, director of Krish Polypack Pvt Ltd Ramashankar and other members of the association were present during the felicitation function.

She termed the Forbesganj incident as an unfortunate one for industrialisation process and would appeal to all parties and people not to hinder industrialisation as it would help the local farmers in getting right compensation for their crops.

The minister appealed to the industrialists and entrepreneurs to tell her about their problems or any fault with the policy. The government would take their complaints or grievances as a feedback.

She said: “We are committed to industrialisation in the state, though we are not confident when we will be able to catch up with states like Maharashtra and Gujarat in terms of industrialisation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mishra said though much of the matching notifications have been issued according to new Industrial Incentive Policy, 2011 there are departments like commercial tax, registration and others, which are yet to issue notifications in pursuance of the new policy.

“All notifications would be issued by the end of September,” Mishra said.

Emphasising transparency as the department’s main motto, Mishra said: “We are trying to make it more and more transparent and that’s we are trying to make everything online. It will be completed by end-December for which talks are underway with a consultancy firm.”

Replying to BIA vice-president Subhash K Patwari’s demand for constitution of corpus fund to revive sick industries, Mishra said the government wants to establish a corpus fund but made it clear that the government’s role would be limited to give credibility to the fund as most of the share has to be met by industrialists and financial institutions.

“You (industrialists) can come to me any time with your suggestions, problems or complaints. I will be there to solve their problem,” Mishra said while emphasising more interaction with industry associations and entrepreneurs so that the government could take a timely corrective measure.