FICO urged Punjab CM to save mixed land industries

Ludhiana, June 29, 2023: The Punjab Government has announced to extend the Mixed Land Use Areas for 5 Years, but the same has never been notified, and the Punjab Pollution Control Board is providing the Consent to Operate to industries established in Mixed Land Use areas of Ludhiana only until July 31, 2023. After that, the industry has to shut down its operations.

FICO urged Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab, to save the industrial establishments set up in the Mixed Land Use Areas of Ludhiana and declare the Mixed Land Use Areas as Designated Industrial Areas.

Gurmeet Singh Kular, President of FICO, said that the Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Partap Singh Kairon, established ITI, ATI, and MERADO in this Area, and the licenses were issued for the industry. Even former Principal Secretary Karan Avtar Singh personally visited the area and submitted a report recommending that this area be declared an Industrial Area. Many Unit's consents to operate is being expiring on June 30, 2023, and the same is not being renewed by the Punjab Pollution Control Board. 

Baldev Singh Amar, Vice President of FICO, said that the units established in the Mixed Land Use are primarily microscale, working in small plots ranging between 20 and 200 Square Yards, and they do not have the financial capacity to shift the industry. These industries must be provided with relief and allowed to operate only in MLU areas.

Harpal Singh Bhamber, Head Bicycle Division, FICO, said that more than 75% of the Total bicycle industry in India, operates from Ludhiana, out of which 80–90% operate from the Mixed Land Use Areas, are registered under MSME, and have been working for the last 60–70 years. Many micro and small-scale units are operational in the Mixed Land Use Areas of the city, with a workshop on the ground floor and a residence on the first floor. These units are the backbone of Ludhiana's MSME Sectors.

Gurmukh Singh Rupal, Head Sewing Machine Division, FICO, said that these small units established in MLU areas are the suppliers of mandatory products to large units, and shutting down their operations will be a hindrance to the city's growth.

Dinesh Singh Bhogal, Secretary FICO, said that if the industries established in the Mixed Land Use Areas have to shut down their operations, the same will have an adverse effect on the operation of the Large industries established in the designated areas, resulting in the closure of the large units. Also, for the efficient growth of Ludhiana, the Mixed Land Use areas must be declared designated Industrial areas.