Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday directed the Department of Industries and the District Industries Centres to provide all industrial units eligible to reopen with requisite approvals along with required curfew passes within 12 hours of applying.
Amarinder also promised to raise the issue of central support for industry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the video chat that the latter has convened with chief ministers of all states on Monday.
At a Webinar that saw the participation of nearly 100 industry stalwarts, foreign ambassadors/diplomats and others, the chief minister said he had already requested the central government to find innovative solutions to support the industry in this difficult time so that they could continue to pay the labourers and workers. “The industry cannot pay wages endlessly,” he said, responding to some concerns expressed by the participants.
Captain Amarinder said the state was not getting its share from the Centre, which had also rejected its request for allowing liquor sales, leading to losses to the tune of Rs 6,200 crore in revenue.
“The Centre has to compensate (them),” he said, adding that he would raise these concerns during Monday’s meeting.
He also said he would raise the issue of reopening alcohol business again with the prime minister.
“How does the Centre expect a small state like Punjab to cope with the current crisis without GST and without liquor sales,” he asked.
Amarinder also conveyed to the industry the central government’s clarification that there would no penal action against any industrial unit if a worker is found infected with coronavirus.
The Chief Minister also assured the industry that there was neither any intention nor direction from his government to impose any criminal liabilities on the industry and their CEOs for COVID-positive cases in their workforce. However, he urged them to follow all health and medical safety protocols laid down for checking spread of the coronavirus.
The Chief Minister has directed all departments to support and facilitate the permitted industries to reopen and commence operations, said an official spokesperson. Pointing out that industry could function as per guidelines if they provide food and shelter to workers according to the Centre’s locked-in permission to operate, he also made it clear that all orders giving approval to industrial unit to operate must be sent to the labour, police and other concerned departments so that there is no harassment of industry.
Captain Amarinder urged the industry to immediately bring to the notice of the district magistrate concerned or the Industry Minister and senior officers of the department any difficulty faced by them.
“If due to any supply chain problems any industrial unit cannot continue to function, they will be permitted to shut down operations even as the government will make all efforts to prevent such problems,” he said.
