Industrialists Bitter With Punjab Govt

Jalandhar: Criticising the Punjab government for not taking any plan to fulfil the promises made in its poll-manifesto to improve industry in the state, local industrialists are sour with the Akali-BJP government over the imposition of new power tariffs, security deposits, entry tax and enhanced rates for registration of land as it was proving to be a huge burden. They say the state is facing step-motherly treatment from the Centre in comparison to Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and other neighbouring states, which had been given special tax incentive, but the state government also did nothing to provide level playing field to the industrialists of the state.

Jalandhar Chamber of Industries and Commerce General Secretary Charanjit Singh Mangi said the members were astonished at the revision of basic minimum price for land registration, which was more than double (Rs 2 lakh per marla), than the actual price of industrial plots in industrial areas. The government''s decision to impose four per cent entry tax on iron and steel, comprising scrap dyes, chemicals, yarns, fibre tops and chips would directly affect the cost of production. Deputations of Jalandhar Chamber of Industry and Commerce had held several meetings with the state government and its senior officials to declare Godaipur as industrial zone.