Rakesh Bhayana
Panipat: The district administration has taken serious note of the problems faced by industrial units in Panipat and has stepped up efforts to resolve them. At a meeting organised at Gymkhana Club under the banner of the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Panipat Exporters Association, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Harish Kumar Vashisht, Municipal Commissioner Dr. Pankaj Yadav and officials from various departments heard the concerns of industrialists.
Key issues raised during the meeting included roads, electricity, sewerage, sanitation, drainage, fire safety, pollution, MSMEs, GST refunds, HSVP and HSIIDC-related matters.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Harish Kumar Vashisht said this was the third meeting held by the district administration with industrial organisations. Two such meetings had already been conducted earlier. He said the discussions had highlighted not only problems faced by the industrial sector but also certain gaps in the implementation of government schemes.
To address these gaps, officials from all concerned departments were brought together on a common platform so that industrial grievances could be resolved department-wise and within a stipulated time frame.
The DC said the Central and State governments were implementing several schemes to promote industry and exports. If there were any shortcomings or loopholes preventing industrial units from getting the benefits of these schemes, they would be addressed. Complaints related to industries are being given priority, he added.
Dr. Vashisht said issues related to the electricity and MSME departments, as well as HSVP and HSIIDC, had also been raised. Since HSVP officials were not present at the meeting, a response would be sought from the department on the issues concerning it.
He said problems would continue to arise as industrial activities expand, but better coordination between the administration and the industrial sector would ensure their continuous resolution.
Around 80% of problems resolved: Dhamija
Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Vinod Dhamija said that following the meeting held around 15 days ago, various departments had resolved nearly 80 per cent of the problems raised by industrialists.
He thanked the district administration and concerned departments for taking prompt action. Some issues were resolved during the meeting itself, while a few remained pending because officials concerned were absent.
Dhamija said dialogue between industrialists and the administration would continue. It has also been agreed to organise such seminars every two to three months. These meetings will provide industrialists with an opportunity to directly raise their concerns with the administration and also learn about new government schemes, policies and regulations.
Anti-encroachment drive from September 11
Dhamija said the issue of encroachments on roads and the presence of slums in HSIIDC areas was also brought to the administration's notice. Following the DC's directions, HSIIDC will launch an anti-encroachment drive in the area from September 11 with the assistance of police personnel.
Improvement in GST refund issues
Industrialists also raised issues related to GST refunds. Dhamija said considerable improvement had been witnessed in the matter over the past 10 days and pending refunds had started reaching industrial units.
He said earlier, industrialists often had to visit different departments even for minor issues. However, the presence of officials from all concerned departments on a single platform had made the grievance-redressal process easier and more effective.
DC calls for SOPs in every industrial unit
The Deputy Commissioner urged industrialists to prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for their respective establishments. He said advance preparedness was essential to deal effectively with any emergency or untoward incident.
He stressed that safety arrangements should be given top priority in industrial units. Industrial establishments should coordinate with the concerned departments and ensure proper systems are in place to deal with disasters and emergency situations effectively.