No excise package yet investors looking to Himachal

Shimla : Despite the Central excise package expiring three years ago investors are still keen to set up units in Himachal Pradesh .

The state’s industries minister Mukesh Agnihotri told the state assembly here Wednesday the present government is 100 days old and has made several attempts to restore the Central package to attract more investors .

“Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has met Monmohan Singh , finance minister P Chidambaram and commerce minister Anand Sharma this year ,” Agnihotri said .

The Central excise package was announced in 2003 by the NDA government for ten years but was scaled down by the UPA government in early 2010 .

Replying to another question the industries minister said Una district had been declared a special economic zone in 2006 .

But due to non availability of land , rail and air services , objections by locals the government has not been able to implement this policy in the district .

He said there was even a plan to build an airport in Una but due to objections by locals the government has not been able to build the airport .