Government of Assam Declares Dedicated Industrial Zones to Facilitate Easy Transfer of Land for Industry Setup

GUWAHATI, India, January 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

160 sq km industrial corridor to help establish firms without land conversion issues 

Promotes ease of doing business ahead of Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit 2018 

Assam has given wings to the vision of transforming into a new land of growth and as the gateway to the ASEAN countries and the entire North East and Bangladesh. The State of Assam has a unique advantage of being at a strategic geographic location with a strong connectivity network, making it an ideal destination for doing business with the ASEAN countries.

Assam is steadily turning into a land of vast opportunities and vibrant economy of the South-East Asian market. In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's enhancing the ease of doing business, the Government of Assam has declared two dedicated industrial zones for development of industries in the State. The State Government has earmarked areas on both sides of NH 37 from Jalukbari to Kukurmara and another extending beside NH 31 from Jalukbari to Tihu, excluding tribal belts and blocks, wet lands, notified forest land, VGR, and PGR lands as Industrial Zone for the purpose of assessment of land revenue at an enhanced rate as may be applicable. Industries and Commerce Department is adding more such areas into the Land Bank to be held in reserve by the State Government to enable the prospective entrepreneurs and business houses to set up their units.

This announcement of earmarking land as industrial zones comes at a juncture when the Government of Assam has been making constant efforts to enhance investments in the state, and with the cabinet's recent approval of seven sectorial policies and procurement policy, in areas of Agriculture & Food Processing including Organic Cultivation & Bamboo, Handloom, Textile & Handicrafts, Logistics, River Transport & Port Township, IT & ITeS, Pharmaceutical & Medical Equipment, Plastics & Petrochemicals, Power, Tourism, Hospitality & Wellness, Civil Aviation, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Startups & Innovation, the state is all set to attract investment and harness resources available in the state.

In order to attract investments into the state, the Government is all geared up to usher a new vision as they organize for the first time 'Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit 2018' - an investment promotion and facilitation conclave on February 3-4, 2018, in Guwahati. Now with these industrial zones, it will cast the spotlight on the state's readiness to become an ideal destination for investments that would cater to the North East as well as the rest of India.

It has been decided to keep 500 (five hundred meters) of land free from industries on both sides of National Highway subject to the condition that there shall be relaxation for development of roads to provide access to various industries.

It is clarified that in case, part of a dag falls within the Industrial Zone the remaining part of the dag shall also be included in the Industrial Zone. In case any pattadar uses the land for the agricultural/residential purpose, he/she may pay the land revenue at the existing rate if he/she so desires.

Industries related to the following activities shall not be eligible within the area of this Industrial Zone: goods pertaining to tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes, pan masala, plastic carry bags of less than 20 microns, goods produced by petroleum or gas refineries, goods in respect of which only peripheral activities like cleaning operation, packing, re-packing, labeling or re-labeling, sorting, alternate retail sale price etc. takes place, coke, saw mill, tea industry, galvanization, corrugation of sheet or both, marble and decorative stone cutting from slabs/sheets and polishing unit, paper cutting from roll paper, coal to washed coal, sized coal, conversion of plain rod to tor rod, refining and packaging of mustard oil, refining of engine oil, purification and/or packaging of drinking water, production of cooked food, sweet meats and namkins, if the investment in plant and machine, in a unit in less than rupees five crores, conversion of coke to coal.