A meeting of the World MSME Forum was held at the Chief Minister's
residence in Chandigarh, attended by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh
Mann, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, and Chief Secretary of Punjab KAP
Sinha.
The meeting discussed the GST scams in Punjab. Badish Jindal stated that tax
evasion in Punjab is still exceeding ₹15,000 crore, and that department officials
are also complicit. Punjab has become a market for those selling goods without
bills. 90% of the tax evasion is occurring in the housing sector, and the GST
department is taking no action.
Jindal, stated that the GST department is solely responsible for bogus
GST billing and unbilled sale in Punjab, and that many officials within
the department currently possess assets worth billions.
The Chief Minister directed Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to discuss this issue
separately with the World MSME Forum, directing him to make every effort to
ensure that tax evasion does not occur in Punjab.
The World MSME Forum advised the Chief Minister on Invest Punjab. Industries
already established in Punjab are facing a significant challenge in bringing
existing industries to Invest Punjab. On one hand, the government has to
provide crores of rupees in subsidies to these industries, while on the
other, cheap electricity and tax breaks are forcing new industries to
close down.
Jindal also informed the Chief Minister that things looks good in paper while
industries apply under Invest Punjab but practically the procedures are very
tough and tiring. It take a lot bundle of papers to comply with the norms of
getting permissions for CLU and constructions.
Chief Minister informed that government is bringing full regime of self
certifications and including all this in upcoming industrial policy of
Punjab.
Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora was urged to establish a separate solar
power cluster for Mandi Gobindgarh. Jindal informed the Minister that while
Punjab's industries currently receive electricity at a rate of Rs. 7 per unit, after
adding fixed charges and taxes, the same solar power would be available at Rs.
2 to 2.50 per unit. The government should establish a separate 1000 MW
solar power station for Mandi Gobindgarh. This move would provide
industries in Punjab with iron at a cheaper rate of up to Rs. 2000 per
ton.
Renewable Energy Minister Aman said his department has ordered the Rural
Development and Panchayat Department to submit a list of all Shamlat lands in
Punjab to identify those near the grid where solar power plants could be
installed.
The Chief Minister stated that the government is considering this matter, and
that there is considerable land in the border areas, Kandi areas, and forested
areas where solar power plants could be installed using high poles, which would
provide affordable electricity to Punjab's industries through direct agreements.
A separate meeting regarding all these issues has been scheduled with the Chief
Secretary this week.
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Gautam Jalandhari (Editor)
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