March 28,Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that State Government would encourage private participation in a big way in order to harness the
identified hydel potential in the State and added that multi national companies having experience in hydel power generation would be given preference. He was speaking to a delegation of Essar Group which called on him with their investment proposal here today.
Chief Minister welcomed the proposal and said that Himachal Pradesh was a famous destination for entrepreneurs who were interested in making investments in various sectors especially power and tourism. He said that the State had good climatic and law and order conditions, which were an added advantage to the prospective entrepreneurs. He said that State Government was encouraging such entrepreneurs to invest in the State and was facilitating them by providing various benefits besides according speedy clearances to their projects. He said that famous industrial houses were coming forward to invest in the State while some of the prominent business houses have already set up their industrial units in the State.
He said that State Government was committed to generate employment and self employment avenues to unemployed youth and added that with rapid growth in industrialization, the youth would get employment. He said that State Government was also closely monitoring the condition of providing employment to Himachalis in all the projects in the State. He further said that executors of various projects were also being asked to contribute towards the growth of the areas by constructing schools and hospitals etc. so that they could fulfill their social responsibility besides contributing towards development of the areas.
Chief Minister assured the Essar Group that their proposal would be looked into keeping in view the interests of the people of the State besides ecological safeguards.Shri Prashant Ruia Director, Essar Group expressed the interest of his group in making investment in the power sector in the State besides creating BPO facilities which would generate employment to more than 3000 persons.Shri Ajay Mittal, Principal Secretary, MPP and Power, Shri Subhash Negi, Principal Secretary, Industries and other senior officers of the State Government and Essar Group were present on the occasion.