Pressing for infrastructure development to foster industrial growth in Tiruchi, the Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries’ Association (TIDITSSIA) has urged the State government to take steps to promote the city as an engineering hub.
Commending the government for turning the focus on industrial development by holding the Global Investors Meet, it pointed out that Tiruchi should be given preference for locating heavy engineering units as it had major engineering units such as BHEL, HAPP, Ordnance Factory and the Golden Rock Railway workshop.
A resolution to this effect was adopted at the general body meeting of the association held here recently, N. Kanagasabapathy, president, and S.Punniyamoorthy, secretary, of the association, said in a press release.
The meeting called upon the State government to establish a trade centre in the city.
A trade centre on the lines of the one in Coimbatore is an essential requirement of the industry in Tiruchi.
In an attempt to promote solar energy, the association suggested increasing the subsidy given to small and tiny industries by 20 per cent over and above the existing 30 per cent. The Centre and State governments should expeditiously release subsidy given to solar power units put up by small and medium industries as well as domestic consumers
The State government should extend 40 per cent subsidy for generators used by small and tiny industries. Input tax credit should be given on fuel and spares for running gensets by the MSME units.
Seeking a series of steps to revive tiny and small industries, the association urged the government to direct banks to extend working capital loans to tiny and small industries without insisting on collateral.
The Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises should be implemented immediately. Small industries should be fully exempt from excise and service tax, the association demanded.
A six-lane highway should be laid between Coimbatore and the Karaikal port via Tiruchi and the highway could be developed as an industrial corridor, another resolution suggested.
The association called for steps to strengthen domestic air connectivity to Tiruchi. Daily domestic services to Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore should be introduced from the city.
An integrated service centre should be set up for entrepreneurs to get export and import licences and information on international market conditions and get inputs on export and import opportunities.
The government should establish a pay-and-use truck terminal for heavy trucks and augmented vehicles along the Tiruchi-Thanjavur Highway. Service lanes should be laid between Palpannai and Thuvakudi along the highway, it demanded.
