No manufacturing industry will be allowed in new industrial areas: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Kejriwal said the existing manufacturing units, which cause pollution, will be given the option to shift to service or hi-tech industry

Only hi-tech and service sector companies will be allowed in new industrial areas in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Monday as changes in regulations barred opening of manufacturing units in such facilities, a move that could have a positive impact on the national capital's environment.

Manufacturing units in existing industrial areas will be prodded and given an option to shift to service or hi-tech sector if they wish under the amended Delhi Master Plan 2021.

"The historic decision taken for the development of industrial areas will now open up new avenues of possibilities for the service sector in Delhi, accelerate new age business and strengthen the economy of Delhi. Not just new industrial areas, the industry in existing industrial areas could also shift to service and hi-tech industries. We hope that most of the existing industries will make that shift," he said.

The Centre has accepted the proposal by the Delhi government in this regard and issued a notification in this regard, Kejriwal told a digital address as he thanked Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri.

"I thank Hardeep Singh Puri Ji for approving our proposal to amend the Master Plan to change the definition of industrial activity. Earlier, manufacturing was permitted which led to pollution and filth. Now, only the hi-tech and service industries will be permitted. Industrial areas will become neat, clean and green," he said.

He said that Delhi's economy is predominantly servicing sector-based and manufacturing sector contributed less.

"The service and hi-tech industry were, so far, covered under the office category in the Master Plan and could open only in commercial areas. So, due to very high rates in commercial areas, these were not opening in Delhi and were going to Gurgaon, Faridabad etc instead," Kejriwal said.

Now with this change in regulations, he said, such establishments need not go to other cities as they will get more space at cheaper rates in industrial areas of Delhi.

In the service and hi-tech industry category, chartered accountants and lawyers can also open their offices, which currently fall under the office category in Delhi's Master Plan, he said.

Offices of media, software industry and IT service industry, ITES, BPOs, vocational and educational institutions, Internet and e-mail service providers, television programme production, research and development and offices of architects and placement services among others can also be set up in new industrial areas.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that the face of industrial areas in Delhi would change and pollution-causing manufacturing industries would be gradually replaced by the service and hi-tech industries.