Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal submits memo of demands to CM Charanjit Singh Channi

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 26

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has assured a delegation of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM) of taking take positive action on the demands raised by the body.

Piara Lal Seth, president, PPBM, who returned from Chandigarh on Tuesday, said his delegation met the CM, Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, Industries Minister Gurkirat Singh Kotli and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh on Monday.

The PPBM submitted a memorandum to the CM which demanded a provision for Rs 5,000 crore in the budget for the development of industry in state, wholesale and retail trade, which has already been granted MSME status by the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises on July 7, 2021, should be extended industry-like electricity rate. Notably, in Punjab, electricity is given to MSMEs at the rate of Rs 6.40 per unit, but the wholesale and retail trades are charged tariff at the rate of Rs 10.14 per unit. It sought that electricity tariff in Punjab at Rs five per unit inclusive of all taxes.

It demanded the abolition of development tax (professional tax) from the traders, fixed electricity charges from March to April 2020 lockdown period should be waived, establishment of world class trade and exhibition center in Amritsar, allotment of a plot for the merchant building, 10 per cent exemption on property tax to be extended till November 30, representatives of the PPBM should be given place in the Punjab Trade Board, release of capital subsidy of Industrial Policy of 2002-2007, relief to industry in transportation of raw materials by authoriding freight subsidy scheme in Invest Punjab, institutional and infrastructure tax on 2013-14 should be terminated.