Punjab govt to meet representatives of local industry

Chandigarh, Apr 17

Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today said the state government will soon hold a meeting with representatives from the local industry to address their issues.

The meeting will also be a part of the government’s efforts to boost industrialisation in Punjab, he said here.

“Punjab’s own industry is in doldrums. We are planning to meet them shortly. We want to meet them to address their concerns and issues like ‘inspectory raj’, VAT refund, power tariff, poor shape of industrial parks,” Badal said.

“If we promote our own industry, then they have the potential to expand by making an investment of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 crore,” he said.

The Bathinda (Urban) MLA said he will ask Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to schedule a date for the meeting.

“We want the same kind of support to be given to the local industry as has been promised to industrial groups in Mumbai,” said Badal, who had recently visited Maharashtra’s capital to seek investments for the state.

It was “very encouraging” and captains of the industry were keen to explore the possibility of investments in Punjab, he said.

“We need big ticket investments in the state, which will change scenario in terms of employment and tax generation,” Badal said.

Led by Amarinder, a delegation from Punjab left the state on April 10 on a three-day trip to Mumbai as part of the ‘Invest Punjab’ initiative.

The delegation met industry representatives, including Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, ICICI Bank Ltd CEO & MD Chanda Kochhar and Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani.

To a query, Badal said the state government will open 150 ‘gaushalas’ in Punjab and will provide Rs 30 per animal for bearing feed cost.

“We will open gaushalas in every block. Opening of ‘gaushalas’ will help in addressing the issue of stray animal in the state,” he said.