Kashmir to have state of art IT park soon

• IT policy to be sent to cabinet by Apr end: Minister

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Apr 6: With the aim to boost Information Technology (IT) sector and attract multinational companies (MNCs) to set up their units in Kashmir, the state government is mulling over an idea of setting up information technology parks (ITP) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to Kashmir Times, minister for information technology, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, said that a state-of-the-art information technology park would be set up at Ompora Budgam, which would be ready by the end of this year.

“We are also trying to acquire land in Jammu for setting up of information technology park there. We have already asked Industries department to make land available for the same,” he said.

Ruhullah said once the projects are completed, they would not only help to promote IT sector in the state, but also generate employment for educated youth.

He said that the information technology department is expecting to generate 20000 to 25000 jobs through the MNCs, which are expected to set up their units at the ITPs.

“Last year we had persuaded companies like Raheja, Panchsheel, Tata Consultancy to set up their units in Kashmir, but due to five-month unrest, they changed their mind,” he said.

Referring to the much awaited IT policy, Ruhullah said that the policy was ready and would be sent to cabinet by the end of April.

“Once the policy gets cabinet approval, we will invite big outside companies to invest here,” he said. “We will also be able to create more opportunities for local entrepreneurs.”

He said the department is presently implementing central schemes like State Wide Area Network (SWAN), State e-Governance Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG), State Data Centre (SDC), and Common Service Cen¬tre (CSC) in the state.

“All block, tehsil, district level government offices are being be connected through SWAN,” he said. “SWAN will facilitate the working in offices. The applicant will not have to move from one office to another, and any kind of record can be retrieved at any office.”

He said the state government has planned to establish common service centers (CSC) in remote areas, “where IT has to play an important role in making the centers functional for delivery of services”.

“Every effort is being made to expand the ambit of IT and exploit it fully in the state," he said.

He stressed the need for taking IT to the remote areas for larger benefits.

Ruhullah said that around 200 kanals of land at Ompora have already been ear¬marked for the establish¬ment of ITP.

“I have also directed the officers of Industries and Commerce to identify more 200 kanals of land at Ompora for the purpose,” he told Kashmir Times. “We are planning to set up IT parks in Kashmir valley and Jammu to make Jammu and Kashmir IT-friendly state.”

He said a joint inspection of the proposed sites, including Jammu and Samba, would be conduct¬ed to ensure early commencement of work on the projects.

Earlier, chairing a meeting to review progress of the proposed project, at his civil secretariat office in Jammu today, the minister said the IT has given new concept of life globally.

“Technological intervention has become imperative to ensure all round development. In the present era of technology, people feel incomplete without access to IT,” he said, and directed the officers to take necessary measures for development of the sites proposed for setting up IT parks in Jammu and Budgam.