Two mega projects in Baddi-Nalagarh, promising thousands of jobs, stalled for three years : Sanjeev Katwal

Sanjeev Katwal, State General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has expressed strong criticism, cornering the Congress government over two major industrial projects lying stalled for years in the Baddi-Nalagarh industrial area. He said that despite almost three years passing, not a single unit has started production on the allotted land in the state’s most important industrial belt, exposing the Congress government’s administrative incompetence, apathy, and double standards.

Sanjeev Katwal stated that under the previous BJP government’s Customized Package Policy, large projects were given land and other incentives with the aim of boosting investment and employment generation in the state. However, while the Congress government has consistently accused the BJP of “selling the state’s assets,” today, when that same land has been lying vacant for years and thousands of employment opportunities are being lost, the Congress government is showing neither the courage to take back the land nor fixing accountability on the investors.

He said that the assembly records clearly show that out of the three projects approved under this policy, only one has materialized on the ground, while two major projects remain stuck only on paper even today.

Katwal said that SMPP Ammunition Private Limited was allotted approximately 800 acres of land on October 4, 2022. This project promised an investment of around Rs 3000 crore and about 5000 jobs. Production was to start within a year, but even after three years, the Congress government is evading responsibility by making excuses like “delay in tree felling” and “paper permissions.”

He said that according to government responses, tree felling on the first phase of land happened in March 2024, i.e., after 17 months, and permission for land use change was given in July 2025. This shows how the state government and its departments are deliberately hindering investors and stalling industrial development.

Katwal also mentioned the second project, Indo Farm Equipment Limited, stating that land was given in 2022 for a Rs 510 crore automobile component project, which was to generate 3360 jobs and develop 30-40 ancillary units. But to date, this project too has fallen victim to mere excuses like “land erosion” and “delay in removal of encroachments.”

The BJP State General Secretary said this is the biggest failure of the Congress government that in a premier industrial area of the country like Baddi-Nalagarh, the employment dreams of thousands of youth are being shattered solely due to government negligence.

He raised the question that when public land was given at almost free rates, timelines were set, and big employment promises were made, why hasn’t the Congress government taken back the land or acted against responsible officials so far? Who is benefiting when government land worth crores is lying vacant?

Sanjeev Katwal said the real face of the Congress government is now exposed before the public. The Congress, which continuously levels allegations against the BJP, is today itself sitting silent on those projects which are linked to the state’s economic development and the future of its youth.

He warned that the BJP will expose the failures of the Congress government across the state on this issue and will continue the struggle to protect public resources and the right to employment of the youth.