Srinagar, Feb 18: Taking a dig at the union home ministry and the state government for “disregarding its promises” president Federation Chamber of Industries, Kashmir, Afaq Qadiri today said about 100 units in different industrial estates in the Valley continued to be under troop occupation.
 Afaq said then Union Home Minister, Shiv Raj Patel at a meeting with FCIK on Nov 6, 2004 had assured that the troops would be shifted from the industrial estates. “But despite that assurance, troops continue to occupy units in the industrial estates,” he said.
 Afaq said in 2008 a hope about troop relocation from the industrial estates had been rekindled when governor announced “Economic Revival Package.” He said the package provided that the security forces in the first instance shall vacate the three industrial estates Zainakote, Zakura and Sopur by 31st March, 2009, which according to Afaq never happened.
 According to Afaq the contents of the package read: “The security forces have occupied a number of industrial estates in the Valley. To accommodate the growing need for revival and setting up of new industrial enterprises, it is imperative that the security forces vacate these assets in a phased manner. To begin with three industrial estates at Zainakote, Zakura and Sopore shall be vacated by 31st March, 2009.”
 “The units in these industrial estates still continue to be occupied by the forces,” he said.
 Afaq said it was only once that the industrialists were able to get the troops vacated from the units. “That was when we took up the issue of occupation with the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes when he was in the Valley to attend a buyer-seller meet.”
 Afaq said: “FCIK raised the issue with the minister and he in turn assured that troops would be removed from the industrial estates. But later it was only from IE Ganderbal that the troops were relocated.”
 Afaq said since the troops were relocated from IE Ganderbal, “the industrial activity in the estate has boomed.”
 “That time there were only eight units in the IE Ganderbal. But after the troops left the industrial estate, today there are over 100 units in the IE Ganderbal all working smoothly.”
 “Our persistent demand for the vacation of units has fallen on deaf ears. Even the government is not adequately compensating the unit holders whose business has been affected by the troop presence,” he said.
 Afaq said, “The FCIK had already registered its concern with the government and home ministry about the inadequate compensation paid to some units occupied by the troops.”
 “The occupation of the IEs has rendered the machinery rusted and obsolete. The affected units have neither been paid any rentals nor compensated for the business losses till date,” he said.
 “The much needed industrial atmosphere and business culture could not be developed in these IEs,” he said.
 Afaq said if the troops are relocated from the industrial estates, it would not only improve the work culture and industry atmosphere in these industrial estates, “but would also be a confidence building measure.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST