Although ministers had promised that the master plan would be made as per the needs of the masses, the new plan is out but without any major amendments. The approved master plan envisages a number of areas as residential which the industrialists wanted to be put into the mixed-landuse category. It seems a mere rhetoric from politicians as nothing much as been done on the ground.

Gurwant Singh, general secretary, Small Scale Industries Association, said, “As of now we are in the doldrums. We are not getting our small scale industries (SSI) and export licenses renewed. Some units in New Shimlapuri and Guru Nanak Nagar, which house more than 700 units, have not been given new licences.”

He added, “We have been assured that something positive will come out but nothing has been done on papers.”

The master plan, which was approved around two months ago with minor changes, saw only two changes - Machiwara road was converted into industrial from residential use while Husainpura village on Jalandhar Bypass was changed from residential to industrial.”

Sources said that residential areas with thick industrial growth can be converted into mixed landuse only if the Local Bodies Department drops the town planning schemes of all the areas. Although Local Bodies minister had announced to so something about it, nothing has been done as yet. More than 13 town planning schemes from residential areas need to be dropped to 700 industrial units, said sources.