Socio-economic effects of industrialization in backward areas an assessment : a report.

Industrial development plays an important role in overall economic development of any region. The Union end State Governments, therefore, have given special emphasis for the development of industries and adop ted a policy of regional distribution of industrial development with a view to achieving balanced induc trial growth. Towards this aim, various fiscal and financial incentives are being offered for setting up new industries in industrially backward areas. In addition, the financial institutions offer term loan at concessional rate of interest and the infrastru cture development corporations develop industrial estates in backward areas with infrastructure inputs in the form of power, water supply, etc. As a result, new industrial centres have been emerged in backward areas. In Gujarat one can name such centres as Umbergaon, Vapi, Ankleshwar, Halol, Kalol, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Kadi, Wadhwan, Thangadh, Limbdi, Bamanbore, Sihor, etc.

The development of industries in new areas also brings about development of activities like infrastructure development in the form of roads, railways, power lines, education facilities, medical facilities and so on which results in increasing activities of trade and commerce. It also generates new employment oppor tunities for local people and thereby overall economic growth in that area. These gains are, however, not without the side effects like problems of urbanization in the form of housing shortage, drinking water problems, sewage problems, price rise, environmental imbalance, etc.