Industry draws a blank, Capt makes no major announcement

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 14

High hopes of industrialists from Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s visit to the city were shattered as no concrete announcement was made by him for industry. Though other ministers, including Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Industry and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora, made repeated requests to the CM sitting on the dais to do something for the industry and Ludhiana city, the Chief Minister announced nothing on VAT refunds or about other major issues concerning the industry.

Capt Amarinder Singh made just two announcements. One that Halwara Airport will soon be started for civilian flights as the Central Government had given its nod for the same and the other that Rs 32 crore will be given for the upgrade of the Focal Points in the city. These two announcements failed to impress the industry representatives, who had come with a long list of demands.

Ajit Lakra, president of the Ludhiana Knitters Association and Head Textile Unit, FICO, said industry was “shattered” as Chief Minister Amarinder Singh neither made an announcement about VAT refunds nor did he say anything on withdrawal of e-way bills on intra-state transportation of goods. “We were too hopeful that an announcement about VAT refunds will be made but the CM did not mention anything about it in his speech. Our fellow representatives demanded better infrastructure for Focal Points. It was just any other visit, but certainly it has not benefited the industry,” said Lakra.

Voicing similar views, FICO president Gurmeet Singh Kular said the CM did not announce anything for the industry, which is the backbone of economy in Punjab. “We were expecting him to at least provide Rs 100 crore. The grant of Rs 32 crore for Focal Points will come if only the state government is able to arrange funds. The industrialists expected too much from him,” said Kular.

He said he did not expect too much from the government. “We just wanted our VAT refunds at the earliest. Secondly, the government should look at the condition of our Focal Points. They are in bad shape. We do not want any luxuries but at least provide us with the necessities, including street lights, carpeted roads and proper sewerage. We are not being too demanding. The basic infrastructure should be provided to us,” said Kular.

Sidelights

• Industrialists and ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Sunder Sham Arora kept on requesting the Chief Minister to do the needful for industrialists of the city, but Capt Amarinder Singh just smiled and made  no big announcement.
• A public relation official addressed the Chief Minister as “Mehboob Neta”. 
• At  the end of the function, industrialists looked disappointed. One of the Industrialists said: “We are still hopeful. He will announce  something good at the Independence Day function”.