Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 6
Parliamentary Secretary for Industries & Commerce Dr. KC Nihoshe said that the Government of India has sanctioned funds for reviving Tuli Paper Mill. For this, ‘full responsibility’ has been tasked with the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) and Rs. 554 crore released initially.
It was informed that while ‘calling’ for machinery and accessory equipments, prices had escalated. For this reason, a second Detailed Project Report asking for an additional grant of Rs. 1,200 crore was made but is yet to be granted by the Government of India through the ministry. Once approved, Nihoshe said, immediate tenders will be floated and the machineries installed. The mill will be functional in about 27 months, he said. On Small Scale Industries, the parliamentary secretary lamented that “we are yet to make an impact at national and international levels due to lack of proper infrastructure on common basis. So, my vision, intention is to pursue the Government of India for development of infrastructure.”
He also said that DPRs for food processing and technology institute for training have been submitted. Approval is being awaited. Nihoshe also said he was hopeful that at least at the state-level, a mini-tool room designed to manufacture different kinds of tools would be had.
He expressed appreciation to Government of India for sanctioning the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Ganeshnagar near Dimapur. The Government of Nagaland had already purchased the land. He is inviting interested entrepreneurs to start their units in the SEZ, not only ‘locals’; anyone enterprising enough can, he said, because “our industrial policy provide free tax and other concession like subsidy and problem of power is being looked into.”
So far, an industrial colony has been set up in Rangapahar and a few entrepreneurs are running their units. Besides, an Integrated Industrial Development Centre has been set up at Kiruphema along National Highway-39. The IIDC has sufficient land and infrastructure. Young entrepreneurs are invited to take up any enterprise.
He also invited outsiders to Nagaland to invest. ‘Despite surplus agriculture products since ours is 80% agri-economy, we have no provisions for cold storage system,’ he said. The department pushing for a cold storage system for agriculture and horticulture products in all the districts, he said.
