PUNJAB: Showcases state as land of opportunities to NRIs

Kochi/Chandigarh, January 9, 2013: The Punjab today showcased the state as new land of opportunity that could offer maximum growth potential to the investors by offering them total support of the State.

The State specific session of Punjab state on the concluding day of Parvasi Bharti Divas today attracted anxious NRI investors, who were smelling the growth potential of the state as Punjab is all set to emerge first state in the country with surplus power.

Leading the team of Punjab, Principal Secretary NRI Affairs S.S Channy today informed that by December 2013, Punjab would be the first power surplus in the country with generation capacity reaching 8884 MW against the demand of 8865 MW. He said that Punjab is the only state in the country that would have three international airports at Amritsar, Mohali and Machhiwara and three domestic airports at Pathankot, Ludhiana and Bathinda. He said that Mohali airport being built on 305 acres at the cost of Rs. 910 crore would be completed by February 2015.

Projecting Punjab as the first state in the country that would have all cities linked with 4/6 lane roads in there years at the cost of Rs. 7600 crore, Channy said that we would soon witness completion of 4/6 laning of Shambu-Jalandhar, Jalandhar-Pathankot, Jalandhar-Amritsar, Amritsar-Pathankot, Amritsar-Zira-Kotkapura-Sri Ganga Nagar, Ludhiana-Moga-Talwandi, Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar-Moga-Barnala-Sangrur-Patran-Jind, Kharar-Ludhiana, Kurali-Ropar-Kiratpur Sahib, Ambala-Zirakpur-Kalka, Zirakpur-Patiala and Patiala-Bathinda highways and today cleared project of Mohali Ludhiana Road. He said that with the investment of Rs. 7600 crore, with clause of 5 to 15 years maintenance of these roads, Punjab would be the state with highest road density of 133KM per 100 Sq Km.

Focusing on Human Resource Development, Channi said that Indian School of Business, Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Nano Science Technology, National Agri Food Biotechnology Institute have been already established during last four years. He said that Punjab Government was establishing Medi-city in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) and Super Specialty Chains were vying to set up their hospitals in the upcoming medicity.

Showcasing business opportunities in Punjab, Channy said that last five years saw an investment of Rs. 24000 crore and 359 mega projects and 114 manufacturing projects were in pipeline with the investment of Rs. 113503.46 crore. He said that Punjab was setting up Textile Hub in Malwa, Food Hub in Majha, IT Hub in Mohali and Amritsar, Petro Park in Bathinda, Automobiles hub in Patiala, Sugar hub in Amritsar and Gurdaspur, Hosiery hub in Ludhiana, Handtool, Sports and Leather hubs in Jalandhar for focused and accelerated industrial growth. He said that Punjab was all set to announce new Indutrial Policy of the state.

Emphasising upon people centric responsive government, Channy said that Punjab is the first state to introduce Right to Service Act and Governance Reforms empowering the people to get their citizen services within stipulated time otherwise concerned employee would be punished. He said that within first year Punjab received 48 lakh applications in civil and 13 lakh in police under RTS Act.

Varinder Kumar Gupta, International Financial Advisor for Oil and Gas drilling sector, requested Punjab Government to also focus on below 100 crore project as medium scale industry could contribute lots to the economic development of the state.

Uma Kant Tiwari, General Manager, Shri Ram New Horizons Ltd was impressed by the Governance Reforms initiatives of Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, and requested for independent and effective monitoring of implementations of these reforms.

Dr. J.S. Virk, Chairman Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin requested Punjab Government to give pre-immigration English speaking training to Punjabis so that they should not face problems in the foreign shores.

Paras Ram Punj, Managing Director Paras Ram Group, Australia, sought more information to invest in the state. Harbachan Singh, President Sikh American Friendship Foundation also spoke on the occasion.

Harpal Singh, an NRI from Vancouver narrated his personal problem with law enforcement agency.

Dhananjan Aggarwal, Managing Director ITSL, requested Punjab Government to notify its IT Policy at the earliest.

B Purushartha, Commissioner NRI and Director Technical Education, gave information about skill development initiatives of the Punjab Government.  

Meanwhile, Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, today hailed the slew of initiatives taken by Punjab Government to solve the lingering problems of Non Resident Indians and hoped that other states would also follow Punjab's most comprehensive policy for NRIs.

The Union Minister personally came to the state specific session of Punjab and Principal Secretary NRI Affairs S. S. Channy explained to the Minister about initiatives taken by Punjab Government. The Minister said that he has already read that Punjab is the only state to have NRI Commission under Retired High Court Judge and had made legal amendments in Punjab Urban Rent Control Act, besides enacting Compulsory Marriage Act, Human Smuggling Act to find the lasting solution to the problems of NRIs. He said that he was quiet impressed by the initiatives of Bikram Singh Majithia, NRI Affairs and Revenue Minister, who has set up Land Records Portal, in which NRI can online block the mutation of their land.

Channy also informed the Minister the decision about 10% quota for NRIs in residential and industrial estates, setting up of Special Judicial Courts and three district courts and speedy disposal of Proclaimed Offenders cases.

The Union Minister was quiet impressed with the privilege card for NRIs and said that he would ask his Ministry to study this initiative so that this card could be replicated on all India basis by his Ministry. He also interacted with IG NRI Affairs Gurpreet Deo, who told the Minister about initiatives of Punjab Police to tackle the menace of Holiday Marriages.

The Minister thanked Punjab delegation for taking care of NRIs and offered full support of his Ministry to accomplish initiatives for the welfare and security of NRIs.