PM's visit disappoints Punjab industry

Local industry has termed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Ludhiana on September 27 a "fruitless excursion" that proved disappointing for businessman in Punjab.

The hopes of the industry community, in the city, were dashed because the Prime Minister did not announce any relief measure.

Entrepreneurs in small industrial units complained that not only did the PM fail to announce any incentive for industry; they were also not given a chance to meet him.

A section of industrialists also expressed resentment that the PM accepted individual invitation from the Mittals but did not care to meet industry leaders here, particularly of small-scale units.

Hundreds of industrialists from Ludhiana, Mandi Gobindgarh, Jalandhar and adjoining areas had come to the Guru Nanak stadium hoping that the Prime Minister would announce something favourable for them.

The industrialists said they had written letters to the Prime Minister more than a fortnight ago, highlighting their problems. They had done this so that the Prime Minister would be well versed with their problems when he visited the city.

Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings President Inderjit Singh Pardhan said they were eagerly awaiting the PM's visit and were hopeful that some special package for industry would be announced but were highly disappointed as nothing of the sort was done.

Industry representatives said industry in the state was passing through a tough phase on account of various factors like acute power shortage, labour unrest, neglect of the Punjab Small Industry and Export Corporation Ltd on the maintenance of industrial areas and focal points, subsidies not being released and the absence of tax holidays.

They pointed out that neighbouring states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal were getting a lot of incentives, due to which Punjab had become an unattractive industry destination and industry here had been rendered uncompetitive.

GS Radiators Managing Director Ranjodh Singh said though most of these issues had been repeatedly brought to the notice of state government, no action had been taken.

Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India President Joginder Kumar said after the Small and Medium Enterprises Bill 2006, the small and tiny units were facing many problems.

"This attitude only gives us a feeling that both the Centre and state government care only for large enterprises, while ignoring small industry, which is the backbone of economy," United Cycle Parts Manufacturers Association General Secretary Varinder Kapoor said.