SHILLONG: Meghalaya is losing its industries due to various reasons like high power tariff and land tenure system.
John F Kharshiing, co-chairman of the State Planning Board, told media persons on Thursday that investment in any state depends on the incentives to investors.
“Meghalaya government is providing power to industries at a tariff of Rs 6 whereas states like Assam and countries like Bhutan are providing power to industries at Rs 2,” said Kharshiing at the meeting of the working group 9 of the Planning Board.
The Commerce and Industries Department has recently submitted a road map for a comprehensive Meghalaya Industrial and Promotion Policy, 2012, to the State Government.
The board members met representatives from the Commerce and Industry Department where the working group reviewed the policy here on Thursday.
Kharshiing said the action plan was submitted two to three months back and the Government is examining it.
The department informed that only 15 out of 50 industrial units in the Export Promotion Industrial Park in Byrnihat are operating because many have closed down and some have moved to Assam.
According to Kharshiing, the land tenure system is a major issue in Meghalaya as far as setting up of industries is concerned “but the department is hopeful for a bright future”.
Meanwhile, the board’s working group has asked the department to file a detailed status report of the Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited plant at Sohra that was revived recently.
The Planning Board also stressed on the need to use cemented electric poles saying the state should take advantage of the number of cement companies which have been set up in the past once decade.
Kharshiing recalled that there was a factory in Ri Bhoi that made cemented electric poles but it was closed down.
The Commerce and Industries Department have been asked to take up the matter with the Power Department since cemented electric poles last longer and are safer than the existing ones in the state.
The board’s directive is relevant at a time when the state has witnessed several cases of electrocution. Also, many poles in the city are rusted posing threat to commuters.
