Solve our problems if you want votes, industrialists tell leaders

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, January 16

Small scale and micro industrialists of Hoshiarpur, Chabbewal and Sham Chaurasi want political parties to solve their problems if they want their vote.

VAT refund, facilities withdrawn years ago, special packages and cheaper power in neighbouring Himachal industry are some of the issues they want parties to take up if they wish to have their vote.

The ailing industry has emerged as a big issue especially for three constituencies of the district. The three Assembly segments have many small-scale and micro units, most of them established 35-40 years ago when the government was providing various facilities for starting industry in the area.

In early 70s, the Central government’s facilities such as interest-free loans for 15 years and 15 per cent subsidy on fixed capital investments were there. As soon as the facilities being provided to the industries were stopped years ago, the industrial growth came to a halt.

Worsening the situation, the HP Government announced industrial packages, making the survival of the local industry difficult as there are ample facilities such as cheaper electricity and tax holidays for industries just 10 km away from here in Himachal.

“Forty years ago, the industries flourished here because of the facilities provided by the government but now we are suffering as there is no government support,” says Umesh Jain, a leading small-scale industry owner and vice-president of the Laghu Udyog Bharti in Hoshiarpur.

He wants parties to look into the industry’s demands. The need of the hour is review of laws, easy to follow system besides rationalised facilities as per requirement of the area, he says.

“Pending VAT refunds are the major thing. Small and micro units have not received refunds for the past five years. We have taken advances to fill the gap and paying heavy interests. No one has it in their manifesto. Parties should see into it if they want us to vote for them,” he said.

Brahm Shankar Jimpa, vice-president of the Carbon Industries Association, says, “Electricity is the main component for industry and we get it on commercial rates of around Rs 7 per unit. In neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, just 10 km from here, it costs Rs 4. Inflated inputs make it difficult to survive.”