CHANDIGARH: As the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are nearing, industrial and traders’ bodies of the city have started exerting pressure on the local MP and UT administration for redressal of their issues.Their long pending issues have featured in election manifestos of all major political parties in the previous parliamentary elections, but have largely remained unfulfilled, much to their dismay. Some of the unfulfilled poll planks include allowing conversion of leasehold to freehold of industrial and commercial properties; transfer of leasehold industrial plots; reduction of collector rates; allowing need-based changes; misuse penalty and implementation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006, Act in toto.Thanks to rigid norms, Chandigarh is being viewed as “unfriendly” place to run and setup business, a fact which has been established by the recently released ease of doing business state rankings. Chandigarh, the first planned city post-independence, has been ranked at lowly 29 out of 39 states and UT. The city fared badly due to non-implementation of business reforms. Due to strict norms, unfriendly environment and high rentals, industrial units are moving from Industrial Area in Chandigarh to Mohali and neighbouring areas. In recent years, around 800 units have shifted their base from Chandigarh. Under pressure to deliver, the local leadership of BJP is regularly holding meeting with industrialists and the administration.Around 10 different bodies led by Industries Association of Chandigarh (IAC) held a meeting with MP Kirron Kher , who sought two-months time for redressal of their issues.Representatives of Chandigarh Chamber of Industries, Industrialists and Converted Plot Owners Association, Chandigarh unit of Laghu Udyog, Chandigarh Industry Youth Association and Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) were also present in the meeting.Pankaj Khanna, president, Industries Association of Chandigarh, said the MP has promised to resolve the issues in next few months. “All the long pending issues were discussed in detail and we are hopeful of positive results,” said Khanna.Arun Mahajan, another industrialist, maintained that on assurance of the MP, they will wait for next two months, if their issues are not resolved, they will be forced to explore alternate ways. “Party to which our MP belongs is in power. If she cannot get our issues resolved, who can?” questioned Mahajan.

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