Jakhar seeks uniform electricity tariff for cotton, fruit industries
Friday, 30/10/2015
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/
Abohar : While offering electricity at Rs 4.99 per unit to new investors for five years is a welcome step to bring the derailed economy of the state on order, similar incentives needs to be given for the survival of cotton industries and promotion of fruit grading and waxing units. This was stated by Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar here today.
He claimed that 345 cotton ginning and pressing factories were in working order when the SAD-BJP alliance took over the reigns in 2007, but only 120 were found functioning last year due to wrong policies pursued by the government.
“Key players have disposed of their units and most of them migrated to neighbouring states. As about 30 per cent produce was expected due to the damage done by whitefly attack on cotton this year, only 80 ginning and cotton factories have decided to continue business. The Powercom is charging Rs 7.80 per unit from such factories. The owners have to pay Rs 620 per kilowatt for 5.5 months as users charges in non-working season,” he said.
Speaking about the ordeal of kinnow fruit industry, he said 125 kinnow fruit grading and waxing plants had been installed in the Abohar-Fazilka area which leads in fruit production in the state but they had to pay Rs 7 per unit as electricity charges, no incentive in VAT over expansion of machinery was available.
“The state government had announced a decade back that kinnow market will be developed over 2 acres of land near the cotton yard in the new grain market complex at Abohar. The Chief Minister had sanctioned Rs 5.6 crore for the project, but the files gathered dust at Chandigarh,” Jakhar said.
He said business were waiting for VAT refunds worth Rs 300 crore, but the government had not been able to check red-tapism and rampant corruption.
“The top brass now talks of launching single window system and fast processing of files, but only time will tell how much fair they are in implementing the same,” he said.
“Punjab is reeling through agricultural, industrial, religious and social crisis. Positive and result-oriented steps need to be taken for the survival of the existing industries, besides taming the bureaucracy,” he added.
