Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday said the state would focus on research and manufacturing in the drone sector with the aim of developing Haryana as the country’s “drone capital”.Saini said growing demand for drones in India and abroad had opened up opportunities in defence, agriculture, industry, surveillance and other sectors. The state, he said, would work to support startups, strengthen technical education and equip youth with skills required in the emerging sector.Saini was speaking at a meeting to review best practices of various departments at the Haryana Civil Secretariat, where HSIIDC made a presentation on industrial development and future plans. The CM directed officials to promote startups, provide plug-and-play facilities to industries and equip the state’s youth with technical skills.Commissioner and secretary, industries and commerce department, Dr Amit Kumar Agrawal said Haryana was among the leading states to adopt the Industrial Model Township (IMT) model, which had given fresh impetus to industrial growth. He said IMTs were being developed not merely as land banks but as modern, self-sufficient industrial hubs equipped with essential infrastructure and social amenities.HSIIDC has developed six major IMTs in the state: Manesar over about 4,000 acres, Bawal over 3,300 acres, Rohtak over 3,600 acres, Sohna over 1,500 acres, Faridabad over 1,800 acres and Kharkhoda over 3,200 acres.Agrawal said global companies were showing interest in setting up units in Haryana due to the facilities being offered by the govt. Keeping future demand in mind, expansion has been proposed at Kharkhoda, Kosli, Bawal, Sohna and the Faridabad-Palwal IMT. The proposed expansion covers around 5,800 acres at Kharkhoda, 5,000 acres at Kosli, 2,000 acres at Bawal, 1,500 acres at Sohna and around 9,000 acres at Faridabad-Palwal.Ten new IMTs, including those at Naraingarh, Ambala, Jind, Murthal-Gannaur and Rai, are also planned. A service centre has been proposed in each IMT to provide time-bound services to industries. Officials said PM GatiShakti standards were being followed in the development of IMTs and other projects.Saini directed officials to develop all IMTs to world-class standards, with improved roads and berms, toilets, beautification and green spaces. He also asked them to explore Zero Liquid Discharge systems to tackle wastewater and ensure adequate water availability in industrial townships.Agrawal said IMTs were being equipped with industrial plots, warehouses, ready-to-use factory buildings, business and convention centres, employee housing, shopping centres, hospitals, sewage treatment plants, startup and innovation centres, green spaces, and power and water infrastructure. Worker housing and women’s hostels are also being developed.HSIIDC managing director Vinay Pratap Singh said future IMTs would take into account road and rail connectivity, freight movement, ports, airports, power, water, gas, internet connectivity, housing, healthcare and education. GIS-based planning, environmental clearances, skill development centres, R&D facilities, warehousing, cold storage, green energy and environment-friendly transport would also be incorporated.He said a Rs 500-crore enabling fund had been created to upgrade infrastructure and facilities in existing industrial areas. The plans include shared industrial secretariats, an advance decision portal for investor queries, Matri Shakti childcare centres, common facility centres and worker accommodation.
