Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati had an interaction session with the industry representatives here on Wednesday organised by the Baleswar Chamber of Industries and Commerce (BCIC). The MSMEs highlighted their plights while Pati assured to do the needful.
MSME Secretary Panchanan Dash, BCIC president Himansu Das and district Collector Sanatan Mallick were present. The industry body broadly highlighted the problems relating to the Commercial Tax, CST and Vat, Idco land allotment issues and mutual transfer problem, defective policy of the Pollution Control Board, stringent measures by the Factories and Boiler authorities during new and renewal of registration, the dismal performance by the district administration in paddy procurement and the power supply problems.
The BCIC alleged that Idco land allotment takes a long time even in the case of mutual transfer. It demanded that NOC be included in the lease deed. It further demanded better road light and drain system in the Industrial areas.
The BCIC alleged that the VAT input credits are not allowed against the CST. It also demanded banning of red bricks and, instead, promotion of fly ash bricks. On the energy front, it demanded quality, uninterrupted and dedicated power supply to the industries. Most of the industries alleged that they were facing severe harassment from the Factories and Boiler authorities during setting up of units and renewal of licences.
The rice millers blamed the district administration for poor procurement of paddy from farmers and alleged that farmers are facing distress sale situation and paddy is being smuggled to the neighbouring States due to inefficiency of the district administration. They said that although there are about 2.7 lakh farmers in the district, only about 30,000 are registered with the district administration. Pati inaugurated an extended building of the Udyog Bhawan and also a five-day Industrial Expo-cum-Pallishree Mela organised at ITI Square in the evening.