Latest news with #InvestPunjab
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Frequent power breakdowns ailing industry
Ludhiana: Frequent load-shedding and irregular power supply is giving sleepless nights to industrialists in Ludhiana. Though the govt has been promoting Invest Punjab and ease of doing business, taking care of the basic needs of industry like power and water supply is the need of the hour. With temperatures rising, the situation has worsened, causing substantial operational disruptions to various manufacturing units, particularly in key industrial hubs like the focal points. The problem also lies in the outdated distribution infrastructure, especially the ageing conductors and wires, that cause power tripping. OP Bassi, president of the Focal Point Phase 8 Industrial Association, said, "These old systems continue to hinder smooth power distribution, leading to regular tripping and breakdowns." Explaining that the implications of even a momentary power trip are much more in the industrial sector, he said, "If there is even a one-minute power failure, it interrupts the work of electric machinery that is equivalent to an hour's downtime. In case of a 30-minute power cut, it takes up to four hours to reheat furnaces and resume operations. This is not just hurting industrial productivity but also causing massive losses to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). " Though govt representatives recently claimed that large transformers have been installed to address the issue and ensure uninterrupted power supply, Bassi said that alone is not enough. "Other infrastructure, including conductors, also need to be fixed," he added. Echoing similar concerns, Pankaj Sharma, president, Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU) said, "Unannounced power cuts have increased significantly in recent weeks. The industry is already battling labour shortage. Add to that the power crisis, and it becomes almost impossible to maintain timely production schedules."
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
NITI Aayog meet: CM Mann seeks special package for Punjab border districts
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday sought a special industrial package for the state's six districts that share borders with Pakistan and also demanded a cash incentive for maize cultivation to replace the water-guzzling paddy crop. At the meeting of the 10th governing council of the NITI Aayog in Delhi, Mann said to develop Punjab as an industrial hub in the country, the state government has strengthened the unified regulator model under 'Invest Punjab'. Seeking a special industrial package for border districts, Mann said industries in these districts are disadvantaged due to their proximity to Pakistan. Seeking parity with Jammu and Kashmir incentives for industries, Mann sought a PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme, freight subsidy, tax relief, agro-zones and others for the state. The chief minister also asked for infrastructure grants for border resilience to ensure a comprehensive development of six border districts -- Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Pathankot. 'Border areas lack support despite high risk and only 101 villages are covered under the Centre's 'Vibrant Village' scheme. Special grants should be given for trauma centres, bunkers, cyber security and resilient infrastructure,' Mann said and sought upward revision of compensation to farmers having land between fence and border to ₹30,000 per acre per year against the current compensation of ₹10,000 per acre. Mann also opposed unilateral borrowing limit deductions under Article 293 and urged the inclusion of cess, surcharges and select non-tax revenue in the Centre's divisible pool, adding he proposed increasing vertical devolution to 50%. The CM affirmed Punjab's full alignment with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat @2047', and said that his government is committed to building a 'Rangla Punjab' -- a vibrant, inclusive, and progressive state, according to an official statement. 'We reaffirm Punjab's dedication to cooperative federalism and to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 through mutual collaboration' he added. Seeking a grant of ₹2,829 crore for the state, Mann said it is necessary to check drug trafficking and upscale border security. He said these funds will be utilised for upgrading infrastructure, jail security, de-addiction and others, citing that over 53,000 arrests have been made and 3,579 kg of heroin has been seized so far in anti-drug operations. He further said to revitalise Punjab's economy, it is proposed to develop an economic corridor along the Delhi-Katra Expressway which will pass through Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Sangrur, and Malerkotla. 'This corridor will serve as a strategic industrial and logistics hub, connecting key regions and facilitating seamless movement of goods and services,' Mann said. Batting for crop diversification to make agriculture a profitable venture, Mann sought a cash incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare for maize to replace paddy. Mann demanded adequate representation of Punjab officers and officials in the Chandigarh Administration in the ratio of 60:40. Raising the issue of release of pending arrears under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students for academic sessions 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, Mann said Punjab has the highest percentage of Scheduled Caste population (31.94%) in the country. Mann also batted for the desilting of Harike head works, located at the confluence point of rivers Sutlej and Beas. He said over the years the sedimentation of suspended silt or sand particles in the reservoir has drastically reduced the capacity of the reservoir and the backwater effect of the water required for optimal operation of canals is now being felt up to Kapurthala district. 'Large swaths of agricultural land along the Sutlej and Beas rivers are becoming susceptible to flooding,' he said, adding that there is an urgent need for carrying out de-silting of the reservoir at a cost ₹600 crore approximately.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
After two years, Punjab's green stamp paper initiative remains mostly ‘on paper' in Ludhiana
Ludhiana: A Punjab govt initiative once touted as a fast-track route for industrial project approvals is struggling to take root, with fewer than a dozen registrations made via the "green stamp paper" scheme in this city nearly two years after its launch. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann introduced the green colour-coded stamp paper system in 2022, claiming it would cut red tape significantly for industrialists by guaranteeing all necessary clearances within two weeks. The stamp paper was meant to serve as a one-stop approval document, bundling permissions from departments including town planning (CLU), forest, fire, and pollution control authorities. However, officials now admit the scheme has seen limited success on the ground. According to sources in the district administration, only a handful of green stamp paper registries have been completed in Ludhiana since its inception. One major reason, they say, is that a large portion of the city's industrial sector falls under the 'hazardous industry' category — an area not eligible for the green stamp paper process. The initiative was originally designed to offer industrialists land feasibility assessments before registration. Applicants were to apply via the Invest Punjab portal or in person, with the CLU team delivering clearances within ten days. Upon clearance, they would be issued a green stamp paper incorporating all required departmental approvals. But industry leaders say the system is bogged down by duplication. "Even after using green stamp paper, industrialists often have to reapply for approvals and pay the same fees again," said Ashpreet Singh, former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Ludhiana chapter. "This defeats the purpose of a streamlined clearance process." He added that the business community had recommended integrating the green stamp paper model with Punjab's Right to Business Act, introduced in 2021. That act allows provisional clearance from four departments, giving industries up to 3.5 years to secure full approvals post setup. A senior govt official confirmed the integration proposal is under consideration. "We are actively reviewing this suggestion, and a formal proposal has been submitted to the relevant department," the official said. While the green stamp paper scheme aimed to be a game-changer in simplifying industrial development, its future may now depend on whether it can be restructured to overcome bureaucratic hurdles — and gain the trust of the business community it was designed to help.
