No AAP role in Halwara airport inauguration cancellation: Arora

On the much-hyped virtual inauguration of the Halwara airport by the Prime Minister on July 27, which stands cancelled, Industries and Commerce Minister, Punjab, Sanjeev Arora said that it was neither his decision, nor AAP’s as the letter of cancellation of the inauguration came to the Deputy Commissioner through the Airport Authority of India (AAI) with no reason for the cancellation stated. “I only conveyed what the letter by the AAI said,” said Arora.

On being asked if AAP government made a hasty decision in making the announcement of inauguration of Halwara airport, Arora said that he had no authority to take a decision in this regard. “Announcement of inauguration and cancellation has nothing to do with me, I had just conveyed,” he said.

Meanwhile, six more sector-wise committees have been notified for industrial policy enhancement in Punjab, said the minister. Giving details about these committees, Arora said that in continuation of the Punjab Government’s initiative to gather suggestions from industry experts for strengthening the state’s industrial policy and improving ease of doing business, six more sectoral committees had been formed.

The chairmen of these committees are as under: Rajesh Kharbanda (Sports Goods Manufacturing and Exporters Association & MD, Nivia Sports, Jalandhar) - Sports/Leather Goods Committee; Ashwani Kumar (president, FIEO India, Victor Forgings, Jalandhar) - Machine/Hands Tools Committee; Ashok Arora (LT Foods (Dawat Rice) - Food Processing & Dairy Committee; Gurjinder Singh (Best Western Hotels) - Tourism & Hospitality Committee, AS Mittal (International Tractors Ltd, Hoshiarpur) - Heavy Machinery Committee, Naresh Tiwari (Plywood Manufacturing Industries Association & MD, Virgo Panels, Hoshiarpur) - Furniture & Ply Industry Committee.

These committees include members from diverse industrial sectors and will serve as think-tanks to recommend sector-specific policy measures. The new committees are focussed on sports/leather goods, machine/hand tools, food processing & dairy, tourism & hospitality, heavy machinery and furniture & ply industry.

Arora further said that the core task for each of the committees would be to provide the state government with a structured set of inputs for a customised industrial framework/policy for their specific sectors, keeping in mind Punjab’s unique industrial eco system, along with structural and fiscal context. For this, the committee should examine policies and frameworks of all other relevant states and develop a ‘best-in-class’ policy framework for Punjab. The committees shall submit these recommendations in writing by October 1.

Each committee will be having a chairperson and some members from the industry. However, more members may be added at the discretion of the state government. Members will be from diverse areas and geography to ensure that all views are tabled during discussions. Members will also represent different sub-segments of the overall sector.

Secretariat support to each committee shall be provided by the member-secretary of the committee, who shall also be in charge of organising the meetings of the committee and preparing the minutes. General Manager, District Industries Centre, from Department of Industries & Commerce and the relevant sector officer from Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion shall assist these committees with relevant administrative support as necessary.

Earlier, three committees — Spinning and Weaving Committee, Apparels Committee and Dyeing and Finishing Units Committee had been constituted.

Environmentalists had requested Arora to form committees to save environment.

Col Jasjit Singh Gill, ex-member, State Task Force on Buddha Darya Rejuvenation Project, however suggests that to save the environment, committees to check the pollution levels must be constituted to keep an eye on the various industries.

Gill said that these committees should involve environmentalists and other like-minded people to save the city from environmental degradation. He said that the committees that should be formed are committee for stopping air pollution by the industry, committee for stopping water pollution by the industry, committee for stopping discharge of chemicals in CETPs and STPs, etc. “Noted environmentalists and activists be made part of these committees to keep the vision and implementation on track, rather than getting lost in bureaucratic meeting systems of opaqueness, thus ensuring fruitful outcomes,” he added.