Bajwa blames state for ‘anti-industry’ policies
Saturday, 17/08/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130817/punjab.htm#6
Hoshiarpur : The Punjab Congress today alleged that most of the major industrial houses of Punjab were shifting base to other states due to the “anti-industry” policies of the state government.
PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for supporting Gujarat CM Narendra Modi even though he was trying to oust Punjabi farmers from the state.
Bajwa, while addressing a Mass Contact Programme of the Congress, said major industrial houses of Punjab including, the Hero Group, Nestle and Sonalika tractors were shifting their base to other states such as Bihar.
“I have learnt that the Hero Group was asked to shell out Rs 50 per cycle which accounted for Rs 10 lakh a day. They are now moving to Bihar. Nestle, which is based in Moga, is also being harassed in a similar way. They are planning to shift to Rajasthan. Amritsar-based Khanna Paper Mills are moving to Gujarat while most of the knitwear industry of Ludhiana is shifting to Baddi in Himachal Pradesh,” Bajwa said.
He further said that 70 per cent of industrial furnaces in Mandi Gobindgarh had already closed.
“Punjab is the only state in the country where the industry is facing power cuts for three days a week. The industrialists have no option but to run their machines on generators at a cost of Rs 15-16 per unit which otherwise cost them Rs 7,” he said.
Bajwa said no industry could survive in such hostile conditions.
Among other leaders who attended the event were: Union Minister of State for Health Santosh Chaudhary, Tarlochan Soondh, Kamal Chaudhary, Love Kumar Goldy, Dharam Pal Sabhrwala and Gurbinder Singh Atwal.
Losing industry
The Hero Group is now moving to Bihar
Nestle that is based in Moga is planning to shift to Rajasthan
Amritsar-based Khanna Paper Mills are moving to Gujarat while most of the knitwear industry of Ludhiana is shifting to HP
