Uttarakhand CM to meet PM on industrial package issue

Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, along with his cabinet colleagues, would meet prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday to seek the extension of industrial package to the state.

"Today I had a telephonic conversation with the prime minister. I again requested him to extend the package," Nishank told reporters here ahead of expiry of the industrial package on March 31.

Cabinet ministers would also be present in the proposed meeting on March 29, he said.

"The industrial package is not only necessity for Uttarakhand but it is also mandatory...because we provide water, men-force and clean environment to the entire country," he said.

In order to stop migration from the hills, the extension of the industrial package is must, he added.

Nishank said he also held telephonic talks with Himachal chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on the issue.

If the package is not extended it would affect an investment of over Rs30,000 crore in Uttarakhand which is in pipeline, he claimed.