Industrialists air concern before Chief Minister

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 9

City industrialists had an online meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister yesterday, in which the government representatives and various organisations of the industry took part.

Feedback was taken by the government and various suggestions were made by the industry chiefs to sustain the sector during lockdown.

President CII Rahul Ahuja said the industry was concerned about the welfare of labour and was doing every possible effort for them. But they said that the industrial sector was also going through a liquidity crunch.

The industrialists urged the government to use the Labour Welfare Fund available with the Punjab Government to help pay wages. They requested the Punjab government ask the urge the Centre to use the ESI fund for this purpose.

Harvesting and sowing season is on the anvil. So all tractor parts, diesel engine parts, diesel fuel injection parts industry and repair workshops must be added in essential list. Further the traders said work was at standstill at dry ports, especially for LCL shipments because of absenteeism of shipping line surveyors and loading unloading of labour. It should be made mandatory for them to resume work to tide over the industry blues.

The CICU president Upkar Singh said that the VAT, GST and other refunds must be expedited. GST officers should be requested to work from home and clear refund applications.

Suggestions made by industry

• Packaging sector is integral to all essential parts of industry and should be given permission while following guidelines.
• Chandigarh Airport should be opened for cargo transport.
• Property tax should be waived for this year.
• For hotel industry, all charges for licences such as bar licence, etc, should also be waived.
• To request the Centre to ask banks to increase working capital limits by 25 per cent