A good industrial policy is one which facilitates and not obstructs growth and change, he added. "Unfortunately, most of our present policies obstruct change."

The lieutenant governor also called for allowing industries to have a split location with its manufacturing unit at one place and offices at another. He said that industry in Delhi cannot be seen as a closed system but as an integral part of the national capital region.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit said the thrust of the new policy should be on encouraginghi-tech industries which are non-polluting and labour-intensive. She added that the "horrifying picture of industrial estates" has to be improved.

Delhi industries minister Narendra Nath informed the gathering that the distribution of electricity will be privatised. He told FE Enterprise, "I am ready to allow industrial associations to take up single-point power supply. They should approach us within two months. From April, we are going to give this responsibility to private parties."

Commissioner of industries JP Singh said, "It is perhaps time to think in terms of vesting total responsibility for management of industrial estates with one single agency, for example, DSIDC. This way, the agency could be held responsible for maintaining the estates in all its aspects."

Singh added that the bulk of small industries are located in non-conforming areas and are dependent on low technology, thus adding to pollution and creating tremendous congestion.

"The relocation scheme presents a unique opportunity todevelop industrial estates which are in tune with the needs of Delhi. This is an opportunity to assist and motivate existing low-tech industries to upgrade their technology so as to increase productivity and quality as well as reduce pollution in the planning process. We will clearly prioritise so as to shift relatively more polluting industries in the first instance."

The concept of shifting polluting industries to other states drew flak from various quarters. BP Misra, chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, said that it seems that the life of a person in Rohtak or Karnal is less important than that of a Delhiite. Anil Bhargava, chairman, Delhi committee of the PHD chamber, said the issues of relocation of industries came up because government officials filed wrong affidavits in the Supreme Court.