CLU standoff: Inc to rally against govt, PSPCL

LUDHIANA: Infuriated over state government's stand on change of land use (CLU) issue and Powercom's new orders asking the applicants to furnish CLU certificate in case of commercial connection, various industry associations have joined hands against the government particularly Powercom. Describing government's flip flop on CLU a pre planned conspiracy to destroy the industry, members of Janta Nagar Small Scale manufacturers Association (JSMA) have decided to start a chain of agitation against the government from December 1.
Speaking on the issue Jaswinder Thukral, president of JSMA said, "The chain of events clearly shows that government is deliberately dilly dallying the issue. How can powercom issue one notification after another on its own, without the approval of higher authorities in the government?
Thukral mentioned that from December 1, the industrialists would start an agitation from Janta Nagar power division and would continue it till their demands are met.
To start with the JSMA has decided to carry out dharnas inside the premises of all the major Powercom offices of Ludhiana. The members have decided that they would not disrupt public work but would sit on dharna with their factory labour and raise slogans against the excesses of powercom and government on industrialists.
Meanwhile other industry bodies like Apparel Manufacturers Association, United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers association (UCPMA) and Small scale manufacturers association too have also expressed their resentment against powercom's new decision of not issuing commercial connections without CLU certificate. These associations are likely to take a decision whether to join JSMA or not within next two days.