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Journalism of Courage
As the Punjab government is all set to present this financial year’s budget on Friday, the industries in the state hope that thrust is given on improving infrastructure, clearing backlog of VAT refunds and their other demands. Last year finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema had organised various sessions in different cities of Punjab to take feedback of industrialists on their budget expectations but this year no such session was organised, they said.
Upkar Singh Ahuja, president of Chamber of industrial and commercial undertakings (CICU), said, “We have suggested a push in infrastructure because if you see the roads of industrial town Ludhiana, they are in bad shape …your infrastructure determines your future investment. Hence, the facevalue of the state needs to be improved a lot. We need a major push in cluster development for various industries in which funding is done by state as well as cebtre . In addition to this backlog of VAT refunds is still pending which needs to be cleared .”
Gurmeet Singh Kular , president of federation of industrial and commercial organisation (FICO) said, “Industrial focal points give maximum taxes and look at the infrastructure of these focal points. We urgently need better road infrastructure. I invite Punjab CM to roam around Ludhiana roads and he will know what the industrial town needs the most. We need technological upgradation fund for development of particular industry from state if they want industry to progress . In addition to this incremental benefits to expanding units need to be relooked into as if a unit is expanding. Punjab government is passing benefits only for the budget of expansion , rather than the full fledged unit. They way, they can’t compete with the new unit.”
Rajneesh Ahuja, president of Apex chamber of commerce, said, “They need to come out with a budget which can save MSME.. last time finance minister took lots of suggestions from us but implemented none ..so this time they never came to seek suggestions. They are waiving off loans of farmers but are not focusing on years old disputes of industrial plots going on with Punjab state industrial and export corporation. They need to start a one time settlement scheme, this aspect is never addressed.”
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