The Biada office at Balidih industrial area in Bokaro

Bokaro Industrial Area Development Authority (Biada) has given its approval to plans for setting up 21 new trade units on its campus in the steel city, attracting an investment of over Rs 200 crore that is likely to employ more than 500 people directly and indirectly.

The new units, granted permission during a high-level meeting chaired by Biada managing director Sunil Kumar on Thursday, include a liquor bottling plant that will be set up with foreign collaboration, flour mill, electronic gadget manufacturing industries and a petroleum storage unit.

The meeting was held at the office of the labour commissioner, a post also occupied by Kumar, at Doranda in Ranchi and was attended by Biada secretary Robin Toppo.

The Biada MD affirmed that the new units would be given land on current market rates on the authority’s premises in Bokaro.

Biada has about 650 acres and houses 494 units in three coal belt districts of Bokaro, Dhanbad and Giridih.

The 21 upcoming industrial units have to obtain mandatory clearance from the pollution board and also comply with rules of financial institutions and Biada guidelines before setting up shop.

Besides, 16 existing units of Biada have also been given permission to change their products in accordance with rising demands of Bokaro Steel Limited, which is undergoing massive modernisation and expansion.

Kumar told The Telegraph seeing the high demand for land to establish new industrial units, the 21 concerns were given a go-ahead keeping in mind their products, financial status and if they would generate employment.

“We want to ensure the units that are allotted land establish their shops after blueprints of their products and marketing were studied carefully. Biada is not only trying to help loss-making ancillary units change their products, which can be supplied to Bokaro Steel, and become financially healthy but also to create a positive industrial atmosphere.”

Kumar added it could be achieved by “bringing in more companies to establish their units here and turn Biada into a mecca for entrepreneurs”.

In view of the rising demand for industrial land, the deputy commissioners of Bokaro, Dhanbad and Giridih have also been asked to acquire fresh plots near national highways for the purpose.

In the last four years, several units including Hindustan Petroleum, Jaypee Cement, Bharat Petroleum, Bharat Cables, Shreya Beverage, Shivani Enterprises, Sheetal Enterprises, Agasthya Enterprises and even Damodar Valley Corporation have been allotted plots at Balidih (Bokaro), Kandra (Dhanbad) and Giridih.