In its first meeting held after implementation of the Bihar Industrial Promotion Policy, 2016, the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) on Friday approved 109 investment proposals worth Rs 6,100 crore.

The new industrial policy was notified on December 28 last year.

Development commissioner Shishir Sinha chaired the SIPB meeting, while principal industries secretary S. Siddharth, officials from the environment and forest department, urban development and housing department, Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Bihar Industries Association took part in it.

"Of 122 investment proposals we received till January 11 this year, SIPB has given its consent to 109 worth around Rs 6,100 crore. We have sought queries on 11 proposals, while one was cancelled and another was a case of double submission," said Siddharth.

On January 21, 2016, the industries department had similarly admitted that Bihar had got actual investment of just Rs 6,012 crore of the proposed Rs 71,243 crore in the five preceding years.

On Friday, Siddharth said: "There are 13 proposals for PVC pipe and tank manufacturing units, five proposals for either LPG cylinder manufacturing or their bottling, while six parties are interested in setting up fly ash brick manufacturing units across the state. There are also several proposals for food processing units."

The majority of the investment proposals approved pertain to small units requiring a capital of a few crores.

Online centres for conducting competitive examinations, hallmark silver jewellery manufacturing units, nursing colleges, ethanol manufacturing plant at Majhaulia in East Champaran district and a maize procession centre with a capacity of 180 tonne per day at Thakurganj in Kishanganj district are also among the proposals SIPB approved.

Industries department officials said the pattern of investment proposals show that entrepreneurs wanted to tap the huge market potential for PVC pipes and tanks in Bihar in the light of drinking water and sanitation schemes being implemented as part of chief minister Nitish Kumar's saat nischay (seven resolves).

A proposal from United Breweries Limited to set up a Rs 304-crore unit for malt-based alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage was not approved because of the state's dry law. "We have asked the company whether they wish to manufacture only non-alcoholic beverages. If they agree, we will approve their investment proposal," said a senior industries department official.