Intervening during the question hour, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the industrial policy, being implemented at present, was under review. He recalled that previous Congress government, which had modified the policy in 1996 had taken out some industrial projects, like cement, from the negative list of industries and put them in the positive list for enabling such units to get new incentives. This was also being reviewed and soon a new rational industrial policy would be announced, he said.

The CM said the Union government had agreed to extend the tax holiday for the industries and also to continue transport subsidy on the pattern of North-East state in Himachal.

Earlier, replying to the question of Viplove Thakur, Industries Minister Kishori Lal said the government would also ensure that industrial units were set up in the interiors of some district where raw material was available. He said the Centre had declared the entire state as industrially backward.

Replying to the supplementaries, Kishori Lal said the state government had set up a task force to identify some areas in the interiors where some units could be set up. The report would be available within three months.

The CM agreed to the proposal of former public works minister J B L Khachi that there should be an alternative route between Ghaghas and Swarghat as a permanent solution to the ever increasing traffic on Swarghat - Bilaspur national highway.

Public Works Minister Mohinder in reply to the question of Ram Lal Thakur pertaining to Gamhrola bridge which collapsed recently, said there was no soil erosion in any village on account of the bridge-collapse. He said instability of the hill was a geological feature which was in no way related to the construction of the bridge.

Replying to the supplementaries, the minister said soil erosion was caused due to the construction of the other bridge.

Forest Minister Roop Singh Thakur in reply to a question of Kaul Singh informed the Assembly that during the period between January 1 to June 20 this year, 23 cases of timber smuggling timber and 1,942 cases of illicit felling were apprehended. He said the government was also very concerned over the preservation of forest wealth. The state government had supplied seven pistols, seven guns and 477 wireless sets to the officials of the Forest Department in some sensitive areas to immediately pass on any information in an emergency.

Minister of State for Horticulture Narinder Bragta in a written reply to Viplove Thakur said the state government had approved subsidy on the supply of telescopic cartons at the rate of Rs 10 and Kullu carton at the rate of Rs 5. He said the state would spend Rs 9.93 crore on this subsidy.