Even as Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday clarified that no industries would be allowed to run in containment zones or hotspots areas, and those in containment zone and hotsposts would run aligning with the State and Central Government’s guidelines, the Nestle at Moga, brick kilns and rice-shelling mills at Ferozepur, industries making agriculture implements and combines at Barnala besides Trident would start its operations following relaxations.
At the same time, it was clarified that no blanket permission was given to industries by any District Administration.
“Nestle is the biggest industry which is operating since the first phase of imposition of curfew, with all safeguards. We have facilitated them with all backward linkages and allowed some of their subsidiaries,” said the state’s Special Chief Secretary Karan Bir Singh Sidhu.
Sidhu said that some industry in Moga Focal Point, manufacturing essential goods, will also be given specific permissions with an undertaking to adhere to the health and safety norms. No blanket approvals for industry have been given as on date, he added.
In Ferozepur, the major industry is of brick kilns and rice-shelling mills which hav e been allowed to operate. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) was also given permission at three locations “with due safeguards”.
“In Mohali district, the industries position stays the same as before. We’d previously allowed those industries to work who could basically do factory quarantine and had labour at site already. The only addition is the adjacent building clause from the MHA,” said Sidhu.
Barnala mostly has industries making agriculture implements and combines, and the same was already had permission to operate. “Trident was also allowed to operate as they are making Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits,” said Sidhu.
“We would allow industries in the State’s industrial city of Ludhiana, in the rural areas and dedicated industrial areas, whose units would offer industrial quarantine or transport to labour with other health protocols,” said Sidhu.
He said that till now, relaxation was available only to the essential items, and medical related industries.
Sidhu further clarified that the Sangrur District Administration had granted some exemptions previously to some industries, and the same would continue in case these were not already revoked. “Any further permission would be given on a case-to-case basis keeping in view the Central Government’s guidelines and Punjab Government’s directives,” he said.
In Hoshiarpur, no relaxation has been given. “Any industry that wishes to start its operations has to apply to Deputy Commissioner, and a three-member committee headed by GMDIC (General Manager Department of Industry), examines it on basis of conditions mentioned in the Centre’s order, dated April 15, 2020,” said Sidhu adding that after which the permission is granted on case to case basis.