STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Bari Brahman Industries Association (BBIA) raised serious concern over the denial of price/purchase preference to local SSI units by the Power Development Department (PDD) resulting great resentment amongst the unit holders.
In this regard, a delegation of Bari Brahman Industries Association led by its President, Lalit Mahajan met Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner/Secretary PDD to discuss the issues related to industrial sector. General Secretary, Ajay Langer and Secretary/Treasurer Viraaj Malhotra also accompanied the President BBIA.
During the course of discussions, Mahajan said “Recently the PDD floated some tenders and the local SSI units engaged in the manufacturing of transformers quoted their rates and their rates are seven per cent above the landed cost of the outside supplier which is well within the provision of the Industrial Policy 2016 for placing orders in favour of the local SSI Units but the department is violating the Industrial Policy 2016 by not placing the orders on the local which shows negative attitude of the department for the growth of SSI sector of the State.”
“Further the matter is more complicated by the department on the issue of landed cost which we termed as harassment to the local SSI units as the landed cost is always calculated on the basis FOR destination for the supply of goods by the outside suppliers while calculating price comparison with local SSI units,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the Industrial Policy 2016 Point No-2.16.2 by the virtue of which it is mandatory for all the government departments to purchase the material from the local SSI Units with a price preference up to 15 per cent on the landed cost of the outside suppliers for all the government purchases but the department is not adhering the government order for the reason best known to the concerned officials of PDD.
The other issues discussed during the meeting was restoration of 24X7 power supply to industrial sector, release of pending power connections of industrial sector, non commissioning of BB III 33KV line, non availability of spares and consumables at receiving stations, ease of doing business concept to be adopted by the Power Development Department with the delegation of powers for the sanction of power load, implementation of decision taken in respect of simple interest chargeable on the outstanding payments of power bills.
Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner/Secretary listened to all the issues raised by BBIA patiently and assured the delegation to resolve the issues on priority basis.