State industrial scene absorbs Question Hour

Shillong,  April 11:  The opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly on Wednesday, pointed out that the Industrial parks in the state –Byrnihat and Umiam were availing fincial incentives much more than they require, were polluting the environment in and around the park and were not employing enough locals.

Raising a supplementary query during the Question Hour, Congress legislator from Nongthymmai, Charles Pyngrope expressed concern that CMJ breweries was getting fincial incentives from the state government of over Rs 52 crore.

Earlier, the state Commerce and Industries Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar informed that CMJ Breweries had made an investment of Rs 24 crore.

“For a Rs 24 crore investment is a fincial incentive of Rs 52 crore justified?” Pyngrope asked.

The Nongthymmai legislator also said that there was high pollution level in the Industries at Umiam which was causing inconvenience to people living in nearby areas.

He also asked the Minister to see that these industries are not polluting the environment.

“If found (to be polluting) such industries should be asked to install devices to curtail pollution,” Pyngrope suggested.  

In his Reply Dhar said that air and water pollution in these industries were within permissible limits.

Meanwhile, Congress legislator from Mawsynram, Himalaya Shangpliang wanted to know the norms for employing locals in these industries.

The Commerce and Industries Minister replied that, 60 percent of the people who are employed in these industries should be a locals.

To this, Shangpliang pointed out that as per the reply of the Minister, CMJ Breweries employed only 88 locals while Marda Industries Pvt. Ltd. had only 12 local employees.

Dhar while replying informed that at CMJ Breweries out of the 125 total employees 88 were locals which means that it constitutes the norm of 60 percent locals.

However, Shangpliang suggested that officials of the department to take notice of the observations and see that more locals are employed in these industries.

“These have been verified officially by the authorities,” Dhar informed the House.

Moreover, Indepenedent legislator from Mawphlang, Syntar Klas Sunn wanted to know how micro, medium and small industries are classified.

Dhar informed the House that the total investment in a micro industry should not exceed Rs 25 lakh, while for a small industry, the investment should be above Rs 25 lakh but should not exceed Rs five crore and for a medium industry the investment should be more than Rs five crore but should not exceed Rs 10 crore.

The manufacturing industries established at Export Promotion Industrial Park, Byrnihat between 2013-14 to 2017-18  are Marda Industries Pvt. Ltd., Orion Health Foods Pvt. Ltd., Grover carbonic Pvt. Ltd. and CMJ Breweries Pvt. Ltd. (Unit II). The manufacturing industries established at Umiam Industrial Area in the same period were – Girik Briquettes Pvt. Ltd., Pine Polypacks, North East Tubular Poles Pvt. Ltd. and KR Polymers.

Dhar also informed that fincial incentives have been extended to Marda Industries Pvt. Ltd. (Rs 101.64029 lakh), Orion Health Foods Pvt. Ltd. (47.48525 lakh), Grover carbonic Pvt. Ltd. (Rs 84.51208 lakh), CMJ Breweries Pvt. Ltd. (Rs 5226.64178 lakh) and KR Polymers (Rs 49.218 lakh).

The Commerce and Industries Minister also informed that the number of people from the state employed in these industries are - Marda Industries Pvt. Ltd. (12) Orion Health Foods Pvt. Ltd. (6) Grover carbonic Pvt. Ltd (11), CMJ Breweries Pvt. Ltd. (Unit II) (88), Girik Briquettes Pvt. Ltd. (10) Pine Polypacks (7), North East Tubular Poles Pvt. Ltd.(10) and KR Polymers (8).