Delegation of FICO meets Joint Director, Department of Industries & Commerce, Punjab

Ludhiana, November 8, 2013: A delegation of Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organisations (FICO) under the Chairmanship of Gurmeet Singh Kular president FICO met KS Brar, Joint Director, Department of Industries & Commerce, Punjab.

They appreciated the vision of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to bring the investment in the state to support MSME Sector. They suggested that the existing industries should also be upgraded and proper facilities be given which includes infrastructure and tax benefits.

The delegates said new Industrial Policy 2013 is in force but still this Policy is not notified & incentives are started from Rs. 10 crores therefore nothing has been done for Micro, Small & Medium industries. “So we request to government that investment incentives should be started from Rs. 15 lakh to give relief and save the MSME industries”, they asserted.

Regarding property tax, they said the government had ensured that the property tax will be less than current house tax, but according to their calculation it is much more both in residential and commercial, which is out of reach of common man.  Punjab government has imposed property tax on every consumer. In this government has divided into two categories (residential and commercial). They surprised that Punjab has major industries and no category of Industry has been made where as in Ludhiana industrial rates has been specified in year 2009-10, which has not been taken as parameter. They demanded that commercial rates should not be taken for industry and the percentage should be reduced.

They also spoke about VAT Refund and said huge amount of VAT Refund is blocked with department. Refund should be online and it should be refunded within 30 days from the date of application otherwise interest @ 18% per annum should be given, they demanded.

About the 4th stage verification, they said there is no provision in the law whereas department is harassing and punishing for the “crime” which they have not committed. This is an only administrative order by the department which is to be abolished at the earliest, they said.

Regarding mix land use area, they said as the Master Plan of Ludhiana is under revision therefore the the areas which are not covered in master plan as industrial mix should be covered so that industry can work without fear. These areas include Gurpalnagar, Shimlapuri, New Janta Nagar, Ishar Nagar and New Shimlapuri.

The delegates also discussed issued such as pending connection in mix land areas, infrastructure and hike in peak load exemption charges.

The delegates requested to look into the problems and find amicable solution in the interest of the public and industries. The delegation included Gurmeet Singh Kular, Rajeev Jain, Jagatvir Singh and Harpal Singh Bhamber.