Chandigarh, 24 August(Wishav Warta): President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Sunil Jakhar today said that besides taking path breaking initiatives to rope in new investors in the state, the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh would duly take care of the interests of the existing industrial units in the state.
Interacting with a delegation of Basmati Rice Mill Association, which called on him here today, the PPCC Chief, said that the Chief Minister was holding series of parleys with the representatives of trade and industry to resolve their issues. He said that on September 5 also the Chief Minister would hold a meeting to redress the grievances of the industrialists and traders. Jakhar said that in a major initiative the Chief Minister has already announced power at the rate of Rs 5 per unit to the industrial units in the state, which was a big reprieve to the industry of the state.
The PPCC President assured the delegation that he would flag all the genuine demands of the Basmati industry with the Chief Minister in the upcoming meeting. He said that all out efforts would be made to revive the sick Rice milling industry in the state. “I assure you that the state government will sympathetically consider every demand of yours and appropriate action will be taken in this regard”, added Jakhar.
Earlier, the delegation of Basmati Rice Millers Association led by Bal Krishan Bali and Ranjam Kamra apprised the PPCC Chief about the hardships faces by them due to taxes imposed by previous SAD-BJP alliance government on small and medium scale Basmati industry as the mega industry was already given in such taxes. They said that due to the lopsided approach of the previous government, the small and medium scale Basmati Rice mills was facing it tough to compete with the big units as a result of which 185 small units were on verge of closure. The delegation demanded that in coming Basmati season a uniform tax of one percent must be levied on entire Basmati industry.
Likewise, the delegation also urged the PPCC Chief to impress upon the state government to provide interest free loan to the sick units under restructuring policy so that these units could be revived. The delegation said that due to non uniform tax structure the small and medium scale industry was facing it very difficult to survive due to which the crop diversification programme of state government was also adversely affected.
