Nagpur News: At a meeting held at MIDC Industries Association on Friday ( November 29) , MLA and the Maharashtra State President of BJP Devendra Fadnavis assured the members of MIA that he will certainly represent the industrialists at the coming Winter Session and raise all the issues pertaining to MIDC. Devendra stressed on the need to have transparent policies to boost industrialization in the State specifically for Vidarbha. According to him, the Finance Minister keeps making claims that ample amounts of investment are coming to the State which in really has proved to be hollow.
Even if the investment is coming to the state, then how much will be implemented and where he asked. In a situation where the industries are passing through a bad phase in the State, the Government should lift all the hurdles and problems which prevent the progress of industries and should pave way to strengthen them. While elaborating about the issue of power tariff, he said that during ‘Advantage Vidarbha’, it was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan that if and only if the power tariff got reduced, the industrial development would take place.
He said that the private sector was generating 1 MW electricity by parking Rs 5 crore while the State-run power plants were investing Rs 7.5 crore in generating 1 MW making the power costlier. He even gave example as to how it is cheaper in neighboring states. If this is the situation, how are the industries expected to produce cheaper goods and yet remain competitive. He stressed that if the State Government does not alter the situation, it will be very difficult for the industries to carry on their operations.
He concluded by saying that he promises that whatever issues the members of MIA had brought to his notice would be taken up to logical end during the Assembly session.
The guest of honour MLA Vijay Ghodmare said that MIDC was made to provide infrastructure and place to industries in the State. He also added that there is an urgent need to change the Industrial Policy and to follow the Gujarat pattern will be a better option.
Earlier President of MIDC Industries Association (MIA) Mayank Shukla highlighted the pressing issues before the members of the MIA and to the Chief Guest Devendra Fadnavis and Vijay Ghodmare. Shukla pointed out that there was urgent need to decentralize decision-making powers. For petty matters of the offices of MIDC, MPCB and MSEDCL, cases were being forwarded to Mumbai office which halted the work and industries failed to deliver goods on time. During the Assembly session, the State-level Udyog Mitra meeting should be arranged to resolve the issues pending with respective departments. The rates of plots in MIDC have increased by up to Rs 1,500 per square meter. “There is no land in MIDC, Hingna. The available area at MIDC, Hingna, though small in magnitude, is offered on auction above the base rate. This not only prevents the genuine unit holders from expansion but it also encourages unwanted trading of the land resulting in a detrimental effect on the industrialization of this area,” he said.
MIDC has hiked water tariff by more than 45 per cent.
The last increase was in March 2013, and the steep hike has been on the pretext that MSEDCL has started levying electricity charges on commercial rates which was earlier on industrial basis for water processing. “We fail to understand as to how water used in industries will be treated as commercial activities for the purpose of levying electricity charges,” Shukla opined.
MIDC should set up CETP in Hingna as 200 units are facing a bleak future. “It will only require Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore for MIDC to invest which is possible,” he claimed.
In the fiscal 2012-13, the Mandatory Tax Audit Limit has been raised from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1 crore by the Central Government. However, the Mandatory VAT Audit Limit has not been changed. “We are unable to enjoy the benefit of Tax Audit Limit exemption. This issue needs to addressed immediately,” Shukla demanded.
The State Government imposes penalty if VAT returns are not filed on the scheduled dates. On the contrary, VAT refunds have not been settled for longer periods. This issue should also be raised in the Assembly. Past President of MIA Chander Khosla, said that ESI Hospital had failed to discharge its responsibilities. “If we look at the office of ESI, it looks like a 5-star office. It has been built by our own contribution,” he said.
Capt C M Randhir said that ESI had promised to offer ambulances to Hingna and Butibori. However, no such facility was being provided till date. The Central Government should take over the ESI Hospital so that patients would be benefited to a larger extent. Past President of MIA D N Gupta and President of Butibori Manufacturers Association Hemant Ambaselkar were feted for being appointed as vice-presidents of Federation of Industries Associations (Vidarbha).
Those present on the occasion were Treasurer of MIA Shekhar Bendre, Samir Khosla, Sanjay Dandekar, Prabhakar Deshmukh and others.
