Industrialists threaten to relocate expansion projects

Industrialists and entrepreneurs in the Malwa region have expressed frustration over the alleged indifference of both the Punjab and Union Governments towards their legitimate demands as the year draws to a close. They have warned that they will relocate their planned expansion projects to more industry-friendly states if their long-standing grievances are not addressed immediately.

Key issues raised include frequent road blockades by agitators, including Kissan Morchas, high power tariffs, an unstable and unclear taxation policy under GST, and cumbersome procedural hurdles in securing Change of Land Use (CLU) permits, licenses, and administrative approvals for establishing new units.

These factors, among others, have severely hindered business operations, they argue.

“Frequent blockades of national highways due to the governments’ defective policies have isolated our region, pushing us out of an already competitive market,” said local

industrialists.

They also pointed out that transporters have increased fares due to diverted routes, further affecting logistics.

Sajiv Sood, president of District Industrial Chamber, and vice-chairman Kitty Chopra, along with state-level leader Ghanshyam Kansal, regretted that, like their predecessors, the current governments have forced entrepreneurs to abandon their expansion plans in favour of more favourable environments in states like Haryana and Rajasthan.

The industrialists have urged the government to address key issues, including the establishment of a modern industrial focal point, linking the city with a gas pipeline, liberalising CLU terms, simplifying expansion approval processes, implementing consumer-friendly power supply policies, providing concessions for key industrial sectors, and resolving ambiguities in the shifting taxation system.

Entrepreneurs argue that the neglect of small and cottage industries has led to the downfall of numerous industrial units over the years.

They had hoped that the previous Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would prompt the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, to streamline the process for CLU and other administrative approvals.

However, they claim that the situation has only worsened under both the Union and State Governments.