More than 500 entrepreneurs, running small and medium industries at Industrial Model Township (IMT) in Manesar here, under the umbrella of Manesar Industries’ Welfare Association (MIWA) have vowed to continue their fight against the Haryana Government for seeking ‘unjustified’ enhancement in land cost.
The Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) had slapped notices on these entrepreneurs seeking from them the increased land cost after the farmers went to court pleading enhanced compensation for their land.
Reiterating their stand at the fourth annual general body meeting (AGM) of the MIWA at Hyatt Regency here on Saturday, the entrepreneurs claimed that the information procured through the Right to Information Act had revealed how the HSIIDC that preached the principle of “No Profit and No Loss” had actually made hefty profit in setting up the IMT.
The members alleged that the HSIIDC sold industrial plots to the entrepreneurs at Rs. 89 lakh an acre whereas it cost them just Rs. 12 lakh an acre, including the land acquisition cost, construction of roads, water supply, and installation of sewage treatment plant.
The step-motherly treatment of the government towards small industry was revealed when the HSIIDC gave away the same land to Maruti Suzuki at just Rs. 19 lakh an acre, said A.K. Jain, one of the entrepreneurs.
Mr. Jain said that the farmers were justified in seeking enhancement, but it should be paid by the HSIIDC which had made a whopping profit of Rs. 488 crore in setting up the IMT. The entrepreneurs said that the present regime was anti-industry and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was not sensitive towards their problems.
About the overall industrial environment in the country, MIWA general secretary Manmohan Gaind said that it was beset with myriad problems caused by overreaching and insensitive bureaucracy and making it difficult for the small players to survive.
Mr. Gaind said that small-scale industry, which produces about 50 per cent of the country’s total industrial output, employs over 75 per cent of its industrial workers, and manufactures the bulk of its export goods was bullied.
Exhorting the MIWA members to stay united, Mr. Gaind said that “unity was strength” and together they could be of much help to each other. Referring to various environment-related activities carried out by the MIWA over the past one year, including planting of several thousand saplings, Mr. Gaind urged the MIWA members to understand their responsibility towards environment. “We must save our planet for the posterity. We must produce responsibly,” said Mr. Gaind.
