Traders pin hope on one-time settlement policy

Jalandhar, January 11

City traders had long been asking the government not to issue ex-parte orders to them until any decision was taken on the one-time settlement policy (OTS). In what could be called a ray of hope for traders, Ravinder Dhir, from Khel Udyog Sangh, said traders had got an invite for a videoconference, wherein CM Capt Amarinder Singh will be talking about the OTS scheme.

“We are hopeful that something good lies for the industry,” Ravinder said.

He said ex-parte notices had already been sent to traders and it was nothing but sheer harassment. “The decision should have been taken by the government long time back. But, we will see what the government has in store for us,” he said. Sources had earlier said at least 10,000 cases had been pending with the Excise and Taxation Department, in which traders had to submit C-forms. Undue pressure has been mounted on industrialists to submit forms despite the fact that MLA Rajinder Beri had a talk with the Finance Minister on the matter. Nothing substantial came out of it. Dhir said the last date of submission of C-forms for cases from 2013-2014 was December 15. — TNS