Emergency meeting of Punjab Plywood Manufacturing Association called at Ludhiana on May 26

Ludhiana, May 19, 2014: Prices of plywood & plyboard have gone up at the rate of rupees two to three per square feet with immediate effect throughout India. The increase is mainly due to enhancement in prices of ply manufacturing raw material & chemicals such as core & face veneer most of which is imported from Burma, China, Vietnam & other countries.
Inderjit Singh Sohal, President & Ashok Juneja, Chiarman, Punjab Plywood Manufacturing Association (PPMA) viewed in its office bearers meeting held today that the entire plywood industry of Punjab has already been severally hit twicely by PSPCL by increase in electricity rates. Now, third time electricity rates increase is on cards which will severally hit the entire industry again, in case the electricity rates are increased again w.e.f 1st of June then the ply rates are likely to further jump at Rs. 1 Sq. feet more. Electricity rates on Agro based plywood units be reduced by 25% to help this industry.
Baldev Singh &Harmit Singh Senior Vice President (PPMA) said that labour shortage is also creating difficulties for entire plywood units Sukhdev Chhabra, Vice President said that all plywood units of Punjab use safeda or poplar wood for manufacturing plywood and therefore, are agro based units. As per Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act (APMC Act), all Agro processing units purchasing agricultural products directly from the farmers are exempt from payment of Market committee fee.
Parkash Singh Badal, C.M (Punjab) in meeting on January 11 last year held at Chandigarh declared that “Farmers will be at liberty to sell their Agro-Forestry produce directly to the saw mills/ wood based industry or in the proposed new wood mandis. No permission will be required from Mandi Board for direct sale/purchase of trees raised by farmers in their lands. (Copy of CM Meeting Enclosed)”. As such market fee department (Punjab Mandi Board) should not make any kind of checking in this regard.
Vijay Juneja, Ranjit Singh Sohal, Manjit Singh Sohal, Raghbir Singh Sohal all office bearers (PPMA) jointly said that wood carried to Haryana, Jagadhari, Yamuna Nagar & Other states be checked for payment of required VAT at Shambhu, Balongi & other sales tax check barriers for proper payment of VAT/CST.
Nishat Tiwari (Venus Ply)said that it is proposed that safeda be not sown in Punjab but there is no water shortage in Punjab for growing safeda. But, actual shortage is due to free power supply to tubewells run by farmers since they switch on for water supply day & night even though the water may not required in reality.
An emergency PPMA meeting has been called at Ludhiana on May 26 at 3.30 in Hotel Maharaja Regency to consider the said matters.
Next meeting with Chief Minister Punjab will also be conducted for proper progress of said Industry so as to complete with other states.