Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh industry resents cartelisation by vendors digging borewells

Tribune News Service

Ambika Sharma

Solan, January 14

The Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Industries Association (BBNIA) has opposed the conditions set by the state government to avail services of the registered vendors for borewell digging. Terming it inimical to the interest of the industry, the association recently said that this had created another cartel and industry had to shell out 40 per cent higher cost than the rates prevailing in the open market.

Association president Rajeev Aggarwal said: “In the past few months, certain decisions have been imposed, which have put the survival of the industry at stake in Himachal Pradesh. As a result, few industries have shifted their base from Baddi while some big companies have decided not to expand and diverted fresh investment to other states.”

The association listed a slew of issues, which have put a monetary strain on the industry. These include increase in electricity duty. “The state government has increased duty on electricity abnormally, which is now highest in the country. The new industry for which concessional duty was promised in the industrial policy has also been withdrawn. This step has shattered investors’ confidence,” rued Aggarwal.

The electricity duty has also been imposed on captive generations for the first time. Even solar power users have not been spared.

They further contended that the enforcement of state-specific levies like additional goods tax on new products like plastic, aluminum and lead industry after the implementation of the GST was unfair.

Echoing similar sentiments, association general secretary YS Guleria said: “Industry was bearing 30-40 per cent higher freight charges. Discussion to bring it down were fruitless.”

They also resented the failure of the state government to set up an investment bureau having a single-point contact to ensure ease of doing business and for granting all permissions and various sanctions.

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