After a gap of 27 years, the Delhi government will finally unveil a brand new industrial policy by December.

By March next year, nearly 40,000 industries emitting pollutants beyond permissible limits will be closed as per government orders.

The new industrial policy seeks to replace these units with service sector, knowledge-based industries, officials said.

It could radically change the face of industrial Delhi, which is currently dominated by the manufacturing sector, promoted under the 1982 industrial policy. It may usher in a boom in garment manufacturing units, fashion and jewellery designing, IT, educational services, business and financial services, etc.

Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said the government wants to make Delhi a global hub for clean, technology and skill-driven industries. “Service and IT sectors were not discussed in the industrial policy framed 27 years ago, as these sectors developed later.”

Delhi has 28 industrial estates spread over 4,647 acre, with largely small-scale and low-skill industries.

An industries official said: “We plan to tie-up with the National Institute of Fashion Technology, the National Institute of Design and the Fashion Design Council of India for marketing and showcasing of products.”

Even industries that emit pollutants within the permissible limit will be discouraged through various infrastructure development fees, a senior government official said.

All city industrial areas will be developed into major centres through public-private partnership by merging land and transferring development rights, said the official. “The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation will own and manage all existing and new industrial areas,” the official added.

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