Open house was not effective

SURAT, May 6: A number of issues related to sales tax, subsidy, GIDC, sick units, electricity connection and power tariff were discussed ...

SURAT, May 6: A number of issues related to sales tax, subsidy, GIDC, sick units, electricity connection and power tariff were discussed at an open house organised by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Thursday. Presided over by Industry Minister Suresh Mehta, the session attracted 126 written questions from industrialists.

However, some industrialists, who saw the house as an opportunity to get their problems solved on-the-spot, expressed disappointment saying it was an exercise in futility.

S B Ghiwala, a owner of a powerloom in Sachin GIDC told Express Newsline that he had applied for a plot in Sachin on August 22, 1997 and paid Rs 25,500. Later, when he wanted to expand his unit, GIDC allotted him a plot in Sachin GIDC on December 12, 1997. However, as infrastructural facilities were lacking, he did not take possession of the plot and wrote to the GIDC on February 19, 1999 seeking refund of the deposit, which he was denied. While Ghiwala is considering filing a petition against the company, GIDC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Saxena and the industry minister charged him with misleading the industry. 8220;In your first letter you cited recession as the reason for not taking possession of the plot. Now you claim that there were no infrastructural facilities.8221;

Ghiwala has claimed that GIDC officials in the last open house had promised that he would be given another plot in 15 days. However, Saxena said, 8220;If we had failed to allot a plot within six months, we would have refunded the deposit.8221;

Another complainant, Jitubhai Vakharia, a representative of the Pandesara Industrial Co-operation Society, wanted GIDC to hand over its water distribution facilities to the Surat Municipal Corporation so that Pandesara industrial units get uninterrupted water supply and would not be depended on tankers. Vakharia also demanded that GIDC allow the industrial association to manage the ESI hospital. 8220;We can employ a qualified doctor so that workers get good medical services. The association is ready to bear the expenses,8221; he said.

Among others, Union Textiles Minister Kashiram Rana, State Law Minister Hemant Chaptwala, Municipal Commissioner S Jagadeesan, District Collector Sangeeta Singh, and SGCCI president were present.