A leading paper manufacturing company has proposed a Rs 1000 crore project to set up a manufacturing unit in Punjab, thus giving a major boost to the government’s industrial development and employment generation plans.The unit, proposed to be set up at Chamkur Sahib in District Rupnagar, will also give a boost to the Captain Amarinder Singh led government’s efforts to curb stubble burning as the manufacturing unit will use agricultural residue to produce writing and printing paper.An official spokesperson, giving details of the proposal, said M/s Ruchira Papers Limited had filed an application in the INVEST PUNJAB office on Wednesday, September 27, seeking state level approvals for setting up the large new manufacturing unit.Expected to be commissioned by 2019, the project will generate fresh employment for around 3500 people, according to the company, engaged in the manufacturing of the well-known brand of Kraft Paper, as well as Writing & Printing Paper.
Ruchira Papers, established in 1980, currently has manufacturing facilities in Himachal Pradesh and is keen to expand into Punjab in view of the industry-friendly initiatives launched by the new Congress government under Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.According to the official spokesperson, the company’s proposal is in line with the Congress government’s commitment to promote industry and create job opportunities for Punjab’s youth. At the same time, it resonates with the Chief Minister’s personal efforts to check burning of agricultural residue, which is leading to massive degradation of air quality in the state.It may be recalled that Captain Amarinder, who has been aggressively pursuing steps on all these counts, has initiated several measures to promote ease of doing business in the state. With regard to controlling stubble burning, the Chief Minister just yesterday appealed to farmers not to resort to such activity, even as he directed the concerned departments to take all possible steps to end this deadly practice. Captain Amarinder has also been pursuing with the central government the matter of providing cash incentive to farmers to stop them from burning paddy residue.