Save Small Industries of Punjab - FICO urged CM Punjab

Ludhiana, May 15, 2023: Punjab Government has announced to extend the mixed land use areas for 5 years, but the same has never been notified, and Punjab Pollution Control Board is providing the consent to operate to industries established in mixed land use areas of Ludhiana, only till 31-07-2023. After that, the industry has to shut down its operations.

Industrialists submitted a written memorandum to Bhagwant Singh Mann Chief Minister Punjab, through Rakesh Kansal General Manager District Industries Center Ludhiana explains how more than 75 % of the Total Bicycle & Sewing Machine Industry of India, operates from Ludhiana, out of which 90 % operate from the Mixed Land Use Areas and are registered under MSME and have been working for the last 60-70 years, many micro and small scale units are operational from the Mixed land use areas of the city, with a workshop on the ground floor and residence on the first floor, these units are the backbone of the Ludhiana's MSME Sectors, these small units are the suppliers of the mandatory products to large units. The last date for shifting the industry from the MLU area is 18th Sept. 2023. For the efficient growth of Ludhiana, these industrial units must be provided relief and the Mixed Land Use Areas must be declared as designated Industrial Areas. They also said that the former Chief Minister of Punjab Partap Singh Kairon established ITI & ATI in this Area, even the licenses were issued for the industry. Even former Principal Secretary Karan Avtar Singh personally visited the area and submitted the report that this area should be declared as Industrial Area.

Amongst present were Gurmeet Singh Kular President FICO, Jaswinder Singh Thukral President Small Scale Manufacturers Association Janta Nagar, Avtar Singh Bhogal Executive member FICO, Dalbir Singh Dhiman Chairman United Sewing Machine and Parts Manufacturers Association, Rajeev Jain General Secretary FICO, Gurmukh Singh Rupal Head Sewing Machine Division FICO, Harpal Singh Bhamber Head Bicycle Division FICO, Yadwinder Singh Mankoo Executive Member FICO, Inderjit Singh Navyug Former President UCPMA, Prabhjot Singh.

Also, today on the 12th Day of protest, under the leadership of Dalbir Singh Dhiman Chairman United Sewing Machine and Parts Manufacturers Association along with Gurmukh Singh Rupal General Secretary United Sewing Machine and Parts Manufacturers Association, Harpal Singh Bhamber Head Bicycle Division FICO and Yadwinder Singh Mankoo Executive Member FICO, sat on protest in front of the Office of General Manager District Industries Centre Ludhiana, demanding to declare the Mixed Land Use Areas as the Designated Industrial Areas of Ludhiana.