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| Look, industrial estates are turning to graveyards | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | June 24
Asking the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to come concrete on the issue and desist from false promises, the industrialists of Jammu region have voiced a deep pessimism saying that the day is not too far when industrial estates will be turned into graveyards.
In an emotional and empathic plea to the Chief Minister, the representative of the industrialists led by Annil Suri have said that industry do not run on mere promises. “In a systematic manner we have been pushed to walls and over these years have got nothing from the government except promises which never saw day of light”, said Suri.
The industrialists today had an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of Suri to take stock of the situation arising out various factors responsible for virtual closure of various units.
They observed that despite running from pillar to post, not even a symbolic relief has been offered to them. “The industry feels that they have been stabbed on their back by the Government and our Chief Minister is aware of the consequences of this dilution of incentives but the fact remain that nothing has been done on this account, except false promises”, said their statement.
Industry of Jammu and Kashmir at present is passing through a rough patch wherein there is no priority and consistency in the Government policies for Industry. Industrial policy which had been framed by the Government of India for our State for a period of ten years was diluted in mid term. After the policy, Government had invited various industrialists from outside the State and local entrepreneurs were also encouraged to set up their industrial units in our State The package of incentives was given to our State due to various factors like J&K being a remote part of India wherein we have no raw material available, neither do we have the selling market. The power available to the industry is just 16 hours and practically only 12 to 13 hours of power supply is provided. Due to these factors the Government of India had provided special package of incentives to our State.
The recent notification issued by the Ministry of Finance GOI, has shattered the confidence of the industrialist. This dilution of the incentive is not acceptable by the industrialist stated by Annil Suri Chairman Federation of Industries.
A sigh of relief was noticed when Ministry of finance Govt. of India on 10th June’ 08 issued a fresh notification on excise duty incentive where in relief has been given but it was surprising that the relief was given only to the Cement Industry and an individual unit whereas the majority of the industries in Jammu Region have been left out. This has caused lot of unrest among the entrepreneurs and more than 150 units are on the verge of closure. Already large numbers of Industries pertaining to non ferrous metals, menthol, mosquito coils, resins & turpentine, paper have become non operational (A list already stand submitted to the Government). This will adversely affect ancillary units and service sectors mostly set up by the sons of the soil. FOI feels that if immediate remedial measures are not taken by the Government it will undo the Industrial development of the State and will lead to large scale retrenchment of labour force.
Also since power which is the main life line for industry and is available for only 12 to 13 hours, most of the industries are still running on generator sets We have been crying and shouting before the Chief Minister to provide us 24 hours supply but we feel our voice does not reach his ears or intentionally it is being overlooked by the Government.. Industry was expecting that Government may help us by providing us power for 24 hours but nothing has happened and on the contrary the power tariff was increased by about 150%. We fail to understand what kind of justice has been given to us. In the month of Nov 2007 Chief Minister had promised to reduce the tariff and made a committee to review it under the chairmanship of Economic Advisor Dr. Haseeb Drabu. Nearly 8 months have passed and we are yet to see the light of the day, even recently in the month of May Chief Minister Jenab Ghulam Nabi Azad again made a promise that within a fortnight the reduction in power tariff will be announced. And the problem of virtual withdrawal of excise duty incentive provided by the Govt. of India is still not resolved.
Federation of Industries Jammu request Chief Minister to stop giving us false promises and consider Industry as priority. These burning issues are to be taken immediately otherwise the Govt. has to face the consequences by accepting a long queue of sick and closed units in our State leaving the State with the Industrial Estates into grave- yard. |
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