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Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, December 9
The two-day Progressive Punjab Investors Summit-2019 culminated with the state government promising to take steps to boost the industrial sector. However, the majority of the city Industrialists do not have any hopes. They say that these were mere announcements like made in the past.
The traders and manufacturers say that the government, which could not even provide the promised electricity at Rs 5 per unit to the industrialists, would not able to do anything else for the industrialists. “What about our VAT refunds, GST refunds, electricity, infrastructure, R&D centre,” they asked.
City industrial associations also handed over memorandums to PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar who was in the city today. They shared their grievances with Jakhar. The state government during the summit assured investors of industry-friendly policies as the event showcased the strength of Punjab MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises).
Gursharan Singh, president, Federation of Jalandhar Industrial and Traders Association, said the industry which already exists was not even working, what was the need to make such big promises to start new set-ups. “They announce several things but then forget,” he said.
He said why would new investors come here, won’t they ask others who are already running their units? “And after getting to know the reality, they won’t come,” the president said.
He rued that even the industrial policy was not implemented yet.
“We were promised electricity at Rs 5 per unit and but it was never fulfilled. The GST and demonetisation were other setbacks. Pending VAT refunds and all other such things have crippled the industries,” other association members said.
Recently, Khel Udyog Sangh members also announced that the GST refunds were lying pending for long, thus the Chief Minister (CM) must hold a dharna against the Central Government in which all traders and manufacturers would accompany the CM during the protest.
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