Newly appointed Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora, who recently resigned from the Rajya Sabha to join the state cabinet, visited Amritsar on Tuesday in his first tour after being allocated the electricity department. Significantly, his visit came to the home district of former power minister Harbhajan Singh ETO. However, his press conference focused primarily on industry-related issues.
Arora said that since the formation of the AAP government in Punjab, industrial investment worth ₹14,000 crore has been secured, creating or paving the way for nearly 4.5 lakh jobs for the state’s youth. He added that 85% of the problems raised by industrialists had already been resolved, while the remaining 15% would be addressed soon.
He made special mention of the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, introduced to clear disputes pending for 42 years. The scheme, he said, would provide major relief to industrialists burdened by bank loans or financial stress.
Arora also announced concessions in plot policy, allowing entrepreneurs to divide large plots into smaller ones to set up multiple units, a move aimed at supporting small and medium industries. At the same time, he warned that action would be taken against plot owners who failed to make payments or start construction on time, though an appellate authority has been set up to hear such cases.
The minister reaffirmed that the Punjab government remained committed to promoting industry and would extend every possible facility to attract new investors to the state.