After UT’s violation survey, industrialists meet deputy commissioner

CHANDIGARH : A day after the UT administration started a survey to check building violations in Industrial Area¸ a delegation of citybased industrialists called upon UT deputy commissioner Ajit Balaji Joshi to oppose the move.
Sporting black bands around their arms, the industrialists demanded that the administration carry out the survey only after framing a policy to allow need-based changes in both phases of Industrial Area. On his part, Joshi gave an assurance to the industrialists that the survey was being carried out only to collect data and no violation notices would be issued Teams of the estate office had started a survey to check building violations and misuse from Electronics Market in Phase II of Industrial Area, but officials were forced to stop after industrialists blocked the road and closed all units.

During the meeting, the DC assured the delegation that the purpose of the survey was just to collect data. The industrialists, however, were adamant on not allowing the survey till a need-based policy was not framed.

The DC will now hold a meeting with industrialists and officials of other departments to resolve pending issues. A committee will also be formed for redressal of grievances of industrialists. The president of Chamber of Chandigarh Industries (CCI), Naveen Manglani, said members would meet on Thursday to decide next course of action. “We will be forced to protest against the administration if our pending issues are not resolved in time,” said BS Saini, who is the convener of a joint action committee formed by industrialists to oppose the survey.

The administration had set up phases I and II of the Industrial Area during the 1970s, on an area measuring 147 acres. The plots are governed by controls. There are 1,884 plots in both phases, of which 700 are one kanal and above, while there are 443 and 180 plots measuring 10 and 15 marla, respectively. There are as many as 381 5-marla plots.

Over the years, industrialists of the city have been at loggerheads with the administration for implementation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006, in toto, besides other long-pending demands, which include need-based changes, enhancing ease of doing business.