Emergent meeting of office-bearers & executive body of Fastener Manufacturers Association of India held

Ludhiana, April 25, 2019: An emergent meeting of office bearers & Executive Body of Fastener Manufacturers Association of India held under the chairmanship of President Narinder Bhamra to discuss about consents of CGWA , refusal of PSPCL to exempt use of Billet Heaters / Surface Hardening Machines for forging & hike in the prices of Electricity Tariff after elections. The points were discussed as under: Billet Heaters FMAI made a strong representation during public hearing of PSERC held in Ludhiana under chairmanship of Kusumjit Sidhu – Chairperson, regarding use of billet heaters by MSE’s under General Category & during the hearing all other associations vouched the representation as use of billet heaters for forging is eco friendly & eliminate air pollution. But to our almost surprise, when PSERC asked PSPCL to respond, the response of PSPCL was anti Industry as PSPCL is adamant to keep use of billet heaters in PIU category & also threatened to impose heavy penalties under UUE. It is very unfortunate that though PSPCL admitted that use of billet heaters is eco friendly & eradicate air pollution but on the other hand discourages MSE’s to use this technology. This is not out of place to mention that few months back CMD PSPCL Er. Baldev Singh Sran visited Ludhiana & admitted that use of billet heaters for forging by MSE’s is need of the hour & agreed in principal to remove use of billet heaters up to 500 KW from PIU Category. But the response of PSPCL is contrary. This is to add that Govt. of India & Govt. of Punjab both are very much concerned about increasing pollution levels & NGT is taking bold steps like scrapping 10 year old commercial vehicles etc. to eradicate air pollution but PSPCL is taking anti national stand which is contrary to guidelines of NGT & PPCB. FMAI has decided in emergent meeting called to discuss the burning issue & it was decided to file a writ petition in front of NGT & move high court to seek justice for MSE’s & save the environment. CGWA Though CGWA has extended the date to obtain consents for all type Industries till 30.09.2019 but the guidelines & rules framed are very stringent & MSE’s cannot comply with formalities. Though number of units applied for consents by paying huge fees to consultants but almost all the cases were rejected on one ground or the other. FMAI would like to point out that on 14th August Hon’ble C M Punjab visited Ludhiana & went on record to declare that very soon Punjab Govt is forming PGWA but the same did not happened yet & MSE’s are being harassed by CGWA. Moreover it is felt that CGWA can nor adopt same yard stick for entire Industry. Engineering Industry is using nominal water for Industrial use & major water is used for domestic use. CGWA justified to ask for consents from those who are using huge quantam of water every day but same rule cannot be applied for MSE’s. Therefore, FMAI demanded that MSE’s be exempted from obtaining consent from CGWA. Hike in Electricity Tariff: It has come to our notice from the reliable sources that after the Lok Sabha elections, Govt of Punjab is going to increase the power tariff by 15% with retrospective effect 01.04.2019. FMAI, has decided to oppose the move of State Govt & it was decided that FMAI will hold rallies, hunger strikes, dharnas with like-minded Associations & ensure that no power hike takes place. It was also brought in the knowledge of PSERC also during the hearing in Ludhiana on 20.02.2019 that Industry will not tolerate any power tariff hike.