Himalayan News Service

New Delhi, May 3:

In a major boost to efforts to relocate polluting industries in the Indian capital, authorities here have frozen the price of land that the units will have to move to. The Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC) has decided that businessmen who have been allotted plots in Bawana industrial area in northwest Delhi will continue to pay Rs 4,200 Indian Currency (IC) per square metre. More significantly, there will be no increase in the price of land at Bawana in future, officials said. In addition to this, allotment letters of all those who were given plots in Bawana through a draw of lots in June last year have also been dispatched.

DSIDC managing director Jalaj Shrivastva said the recent steps were taken to expedite the relocation of industries. The deadline for shifting the industries to Bawana too has been extended by a month to May 31. The Supreme Court had ordered the relocation of the industries to cut down pollution in the national capital. Shrivastva said allottees who had deposited 50 per cent or more of the payment for plots at Bawana but could not deposit the full payment, have also been given an opportunity to make the remaining payment by June 30 with 18 per cent interest.

He said hundreds of entrepreneurs allotted plots under the Relocation of Industries Scheme and awaiting changes in constitution due to deletion of partners or directors not covered under the definition of family will be able to get their plots regularised in their names after paying a nominal fee of Rs 100 IC per square metre. However, there will be a marginal increase in the price of land.