Shimla, March 25 A total of 2,411 new industrial units have been established in Himachal Pradesh in the past three years, while 88 industrial units have shut down during the period, Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan said on Wednesday.
He said that continuous efforts are being made to promote industrial activities within the state. The government's focus lies not only on establishing new units but also on strengthening the investment climate to facilitate the establishment of the maximum possible number of industries within the state.
Responding to a question from BJP MLA Bikram Singh, the industries minister informed that under the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) framework, Himachal Pradesh has received a total of Rs 105 crore across various budgetary heads. Of these funds, Rs 5 crore was sanctioned specifically for exposure visits, of which approximately Rs 2 crore has been utilized.
He said that an MSME Fest was organized at the Ridge Ground in the state capital, Shimla, to promote industrial investment within the state. During the exhibition held as part of this event, a single stall showcased 2,500 handmade shawls - an achievement that earned an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.
Concurrently, a conference of 250 CEOs was organized during the same event, resulting in the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 10,000 crore. Of these, investment proposals totaling Rs 2,500 crore have already been granted Single Window Clearance.
Atal Adarsh Vidyalayas have not been closed. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that construction work for these schools began under the previous BJP government and the current administration is now completing the unfinished work.
He provided this information in response to a question raised by Congress MLA Anuradha Rana and a supplementary question posed by the Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur.
The Chief Minister affirmed that the state government holds the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers in high regard. He informed the House that the government has taken a decision to establish Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools across the state.
He further clarified that while the Atal Adarsh Vidyalayas are residential schools, the schools being established under the name of Rajiv Gandhi will offer day-boarding facilities, thereby enabling students to access academic instruction and other amenities during the daytime.
Earlier, in a written reply to the original question, Education Minister Rohit Thakur said that administrative approval has been granted for the establishment of three Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools in the Lahaul-Spiti district.
