A delegation of the Federation of industrial & Commercial Organization (FICO) comprising Sh. Gurmeet Singh Kular President FICO, Sh. Manjinder Singh Sachdeva Senior Vice President FICO, Sh. Rajeev Jain General Secretary FICO & Sh. Ashpreet Singh Sahni Organizing Secretary FICO; met Sh. Sibin C, IAS Director of Industry and Commerce, Government of Punjab, discussed in detail the issues being faced by the industrialists of Punjab. FICO submitted suggestions to the Director of Industries for the framing of the New Industrial Policy:
1. Save Existing Industry:
There is a dire need to save the existing industry established in Punjab, to fulfil that the incentives for the existing industry also must be provided as according to the industrial policy 2017, the clause to invest 50% of its original fixed capital investment should be abolished. Rather benefits should be available to any industry based on what so ever investment they make in its fixed capital. The government should encourage intra-state competition, not competition within the state.
2. Transparency in Reimbursement of Incentives:
It has been observed that there is a lack of transparency in the reimbursement process of incentives under the Invest Punjab scheme, whether it be Electricity Duty, or State portion of GST. There must be clarity about the reimbursement process.
3. One Time Settlement for PSIEC Plot Holders in Focal Point Enhancement Case:
They explained that how almost 6 years back PSIEC issued a notice of Rs.249/- per square yard to Focal Point Phase VIII Allottees, which was finally settled at Rs.24/- per square yard. Now again PSIEC has again issued a notice and demanded Rs.474/- per square yard from Focal point Phase VIII allottees, whereas PSIEC have already taken 100% anticipatory enhancement. Now with inclusions of interest & other charges, the cost has reached around Rs.1000/- per square yard, which is totally unjustified and unviable. The industrialists in Phase VIII Focal Point are demanding One Time Settlement Solution with PSIEC.
4. Infrastructure of Industrial Areas & Focal Points:
The Infrastructure of Industrial Areas & Focal Points is very bad shape, recently few Roads have been constructed but the overall situation is bad, it is requested to start the work of pending roads as well before the rainy season, also the drainage systems must be cleaned to proper shape before the rains, so that the huge water loggings may be avoided.
5. Technology Upgradation Scheme for Bicycle Industry:
The bicycle industry is the mother industry of Punjab which makes India the 2nd Largest Manufacturers in the World, whereas China is the Largest Manufacturer of Bicycles, but the Gap between the Manufacturing quantity of both is very high. The Technology Upgradation Fund scheme should be introduced for the bicycle industry, with benefits of up to 40 Crores. So, Bicycle Industry can upgrade itself to compete with the world & make India the largest Manufacturer of Bicycles in the World.
6. Dhanansu Focal Point:
Dhanansu Focal Point was announced 7 years ago, the land has been sold to one or two big corporates but the plots have not been allotted to MSME Sector. It is the high time that the allotment of
the Dhanansu Focal Point’s plot for the MSME Sector which is the backbone of Ludhiana’s Industry.
7. Plastic Carry Bags:
Industrialists manufacturing plastic carry bags in Punjab are in dilemma since the imposition of Ban in the year 2016. Plastic carry bags are a substitute for paper carry bags; we all are well aware that the total forest cover of Punjab is less than 6% of the total area of Punjab.
It is requested that on grounds of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India & the Public Notice issued by Delhi Pollution Control Committee that has allowed the Plastic Carry Bags with thickness not less than 75 microns, and non-woven plastic carry bags to be made up of 60 Grams per Square Meters. The Government of Punjab must also do the same.
8. Single Use Plastic:
During the Covid Pandemic, it was the single-use plastic items which played an important role, need not to say that the market of Single-use plastic (tumblers, bowls, plates) is worth Rs. 2,25,000 Crores in India, with thousands of manufacturers and millions of wholesalers and retailers throughout the country, most of them are the MSME sector units. Imposing a ban on single-use plastic and making people out of business is not the solution. Before imposing the ban, we should work on the alternative of the same.
9. Ban Single-Use Paper Products:
Approximately 29,000 trees are being cut daily in the country due to which many species have gone extinct, and many more are on the verge of extinction. India is at the end in the number of trees per human being in the world. We strongly oppose the un-due cutting of trees for the manufacturing of various single-use paper glasses, cups, plates, paper napkins, straws etc., which not only leads to global warming but also affects the flora and fauna. We strongly demand to ban single-use paper products to save the flora, fauna, human beings and the environment for our coming generations.
