Jammu, Mar 22: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said it has taken several major steps to establish Industrial Estates in the Union Territory.
Responding to a question raised by MLA Ali Mohammad Dar in the Assembly, the government said that land has been identified for industrial estates both in the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
In the Kashmir division, a total of 34 patches of land, amounting to 6,745 kanals and 19 marlas, have been transferred for this purpose, it said, adding that indents have been placed for another 500 kanals and 13 marlas of land.
In the Jammu division, 14,956 kanals and 15 marlas of land have already been transferred, with indents for 9,661.05 kanals across 13 patches also placed for the establishment of industrial estates.
When questioned about the inclusion of education as an eligible sector for government incentives under the J&K Industrial Policy 2021-30, the government confirmed that education and skill development are indeed part of the focus sector list outlined in Clause 3.14 of the policy.
It said these sectors are recognised within the positive list of service sectors under the new Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) 2021, issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The government also elaborated on the measures taken to support educated youth interested in establishing educational and skill development units. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Start-Up Policy, as notified in Government Order No. 29 JK(IND) of 2024 dated February 23, 2024, 596 applications have been registered, out of which 436 have been recognized as startups. Notably, 26 of these startups fall within the education sector.
The designated Industrial Estates include sector-specific allocations. In Jammu division, for education and skill development, 1,457 kanals and 4 marlas of land have been set aside at Meen Charkan, Bari Brahmana. For health and medical education, 153 kanals have been designated at Village Deeli in Jammu, along with 100 kanals at Miran Sahib, RS Pura.
In the Kashmir division, 268.16 kanals have been allocated for health and medical education at the industrial estate in Sempora, Medicity Pampore, Srinagar, as well as 200 kanals at Medicity Lehlar, Pulwama. For Technical Education and Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS), 600 kanals have been designated at Industrial Estate Khonmoh, Phase IV, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, with an additional 100 kanals at Government Joinery Mills, Pampore. Additionally, 750 kanals of land at Industrial Estate Rakh Gud Aksha, Bemina, Srinagar, has been set aside for health and medical education, technical education, and IT/ITeS.
