Stop smuggling of carry-bags from other states, manufacturers to govt

Ludhiana: Plastic product manufacturers in the city, who are already up in arms against the Punjab government for not lifting ban from manufacturing of plastic carry bags, have opened another front against the government. According to the businessmen, smuggling of carry bags from other states has increase by huge volumes as there is no ban on the carry bag manufacturing there and the manufacturers from those states have flooded the local markets with their products. The businessmen are demanding that either the government should act against the influx of carry bags from other states or it should lift the ban imposed on its manufacturing in Punjab.
Giving more information, Gurdeep Singh Batra, president of Plastic Manufacturers and Traders Association, said, “In a big setback for the local industry despite ban on manufacturing and sale of plastic carry bags in Punjab, huge quantity of the carry bags is coming into our state clandestinely from other states. It is very shocking that manufacturers from other states, where the carry bags manufacturing is allowed. are flooding the local market with the carry bags made by them while the manufacturers in Ludhiana, especially Punjab, are struggling to even make ends meet.”
Batra added, “Such situation has risen because the Punjab government is ignoring the recent orders of the Centre government and authorities concerned under which the manufacturing of plastic carry bags of 75 microns and above has been allowed. While other states have implemented this order, therefore, the traders there are able to manufacture carry bags and sell those even here, though discreetly. It is our urgent appeal to the state government and the chief minister that either take action against the smuggling of carry bags into Punjab or else save us by lifting the ban and allowing us to manufacture the carry bags of 75 microns and above.”
Speaking to TOI on the issue, Aam Admi Party (AAP) MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi said, “Recently a delegation of the plastic products manufacturing industry met me with their problems. I have understood the issue of the ban, which they are facing, and soon I will take it up with the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and press upon him to take appropriate steps like lifting ban from the quality specified in the Union government’s order. Our government is fully committed to solve the problems of the trade and industry on priority and this issue too will be resolved at the earliest.”