Aman ki Asha attracts Planning Commission to industrialize border areas

CHANDIGARH: The thaw in the trade relations between India and Pakistan has prompted the Planning Commission of India to set up industrial clusters in border areas of Punjab.
"The Planning Commission has decided to extend the technical and financial support for integrated industrial complexes and for establishment of requisite facilities and infrastructure in the border belt," the commission officially said.
The state Government will only assist with land acquisition and supporting infrastructure, the commission said,
The Planning Commission has also showed its keenness to provide funds for development of border districts under special provisions.
It was decided to support the establishment of integrated skill development centres in the border districts to train and impart professional skills to the youth so as to create a pool of skilled work force to fuel industrial expansion and employment generation in the State. The commission has noted the opening of trade with Pakistan through the Wagah and Atari check posts is expected to give impetus to expansion of industrial activity in and around Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Jalandhar.
The commission will give its support for extending and further expanding road connectivity in the border districts by providing funds. The commission has also planned to give an industrial development push to the border state agreeing in principle for creating an industrial zone to support ancillary units around the Bhatinda Refinery, under the National Industrial Manufacturing Zones initiative. It was felt that a petro-chemical industrial complex around the Bhatinda Refinery could be developed.