Former Union Minister and ex city MP, Pawan Kumar Bansal has assailed the total neglect of industry in Chandigarh. In a press statement issued here today, Bansal said the administration is completely ignoring the contribution of MSMEs in city’s growth and should rather be promoted.

He urged the administration to withdraw the leasehold system as it is just creating hassles for the growth of industry in Chandigarh. To promote the industrial growth in Chandigarh he stressed on the need to encourage entrepreneurs by allotting them freehold plots at reasonable rates to boost city’s GDP and create new avenues of income for the youth.

On the conversion of trade, he said that since it is allowed for the industrial plots of above 2 Kanal it should be extended upto 5 Marla plots as well. Discrimination on FAR has adversely affected MSME sector which is otherwise the biggest provider of jobs and contributor to growth.

He said leasehold system sounds anachronistic in today’s times and has lost its meaning now. It actually stifles entrepreneurs as they cannot access credit without offering freehold property as collateral.

Bansal said, land acquired for third phase should be allotted to tenants of industrial area as they are struggling hard to make both ends meet. 5 Marla shed allotted should be allowed to construct first and second floor to enhance capacity and help startup entrepreneurs. He lamented that while we are urging foreigners to invest in Indian industry, we are not providing necessary facilities to the local units to enhance production. It is the local industry and hardworking people who contributed to Chandigarh’s development which is now being ignored badly.

The former MP also said that the implementation of MSME Act will provide a free hand to the manufacturing sector and trade. For this much-needed additional construction carried out in the Industrial area also should be regularised, Bansal said.