Policy push to cheer industry

Ranchi, Sept. 1: The cabinet today approved the much-awaited Jharkhand Food Processing Policy-2015 and Jharkhand Industrial Park Policy-2015 to provide an impetus to the state's growth.

The cabinet also approved the Jharkhand Film Shooting Regulation-2015, a move aimed at improving revenue earnings and promoting the state as a favoured destination among filmmakers.

The food processing policy promises incentives for setting up of new plants and revival of old ones, apart from modernisation of meat shops, setting up of cold storage chains etc. Under this scheme, incentives up to a maximum of Rs 3 crore will be provided for setting up fruit and vegetable processing plants and Rs 7 crore for milk processing units.

"For example, primary milk processing or collection centres in rural areas will be given a maximum of Rs 2 crore in two instalments. Processing plants making value addition to milk products may be given Rs 7 crore in three instalments," said additional chief secretary, cabinet coordination department, N.N. Pandey.

Similarly, under the industrial park policy, 50 per cent incentive or up to Rs 10 crore will be given for developing an industrial park, spread over at least 50 acres. A sector-specific park, which must be spread over 10 acres, will be given up to Rs 7 crore in three instalments.

According to the film shooting regulation, film producers will have to pay Rs 50 lakh for the first seven days of shooting. Subsequently, they will have to pay Rs 10 lakh per day. State's tourism secretary will be the ex-officio nodal officer for ensuring necessary clearances and extending facilities to producers.

"If a producer wants to shoot his film in Betla Tiger Reserve, the tourism secretary will coordinate with forest department officials to get the clearance certificate. If the film crew needs police protection, he will arrange it with the help of the district administration concerned," Pandey elaborated.

In another major decision, the cabinet has given grants in aid to the tune of Rs 22.28 crore to Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) for buying LED-based solar lanterns and for purchase, distribution and installation of CFL-based solar street lamps.

The JREDA has been given another Rs 25.72 crore for installation of grid-connected solar power plants on the terrace of government-owned buildings like Vidhan Sabha, Jharkhand High Court, RIMS, Rinpas, Ranchi University, district collectorate, the chief minister's secretariat etc.

Other decisions include:

• Rs 359.25 crore for smooth execution of sewerage and drainage projects in Ranchi

• Funds for Khunti grid power sub-station and Hatia-Khunti and Khunti-Tamar transmission lines

• Rs 2.44 crore for construction of a bridge over Harmu rivulet linking Kadru with Ranchi railway station

• Funds were also approved for construction of a road overbridge in Dhanbad, one in Deoghar, a bridge over Koel river in Garhwa and strengthening and widening of several roads across the state

• Lightning has been included in the list of state calamities and victims will be compensated as per guidelines

• Posts of Class III and IV employees have sanctioned for smoothly running the health centre at Vidhan Sabha

• Gumla principal district and session judge Basant Kumar Goswami has been made the commercial taxes tribunal chairman.