Need Simple Policies and to ensure availability of Raw Material

The Punjab Government has officially appointed Mr. Naresh Tewari as the Chairman of the Sector-Specific Committee on Furniture and Ply Industry. The announcement was made by Punjab Cabinet Minister for Industry & Commerce, Investment Promotion and Overseas Indian Affairs Sanjeev Arora.

Excerpts from Ply Insight’s conversation with Mr. Naresh Tewari after assuming charge:

What are the government’s expectations from you in the new responsibility?

The Punjab Government wants concrete suggestions on how the wood industry can progress further in the state. I have been given two months’ time so that I can submit the problems of the industry before the government. It is a sign of the positive thinking of the government that it is directly communicating with the industrialists. This will not only provide entrepreneurs a platform to share their problems, but the government will also work rapidly towards finding solutions.

The problems related to NGT have already been brought to the notice of the government. The process of environmental clearance is also a big issue that needs attention.

What are the challenges of existing units regarding environmental clearance?

It is necessary to obtain environmental clearance before setting up a unit, but the units which are already running will now have to obtain this permission as a formality. The government will have to see how to grant easily the environmental clearance to these running units. However, since kettle do not cause any kind of pollution, they should not require environmental clearance. The government has already been informed about this and a demand has also been raised to reconsider it.

What is your opinion on the suggestions of setting up a water treatment plant?

There are about ten thousand units do not release any of laminate leather and plywood in our state. Most of the units harmful substances. In such a situation, the necessity of setting up a water treatment plant does not seem appropriate.

We have clarified this situation to the government and hope that the government will understand this fact and take initiative to provide relief in this.

How can industries be encouraged, what kind of help is required from the government?

First of all, the government should consult the industry before policy making. We will suggest to the government not only the problem of the wood industry but also its solution.

Because if the same policy is made for every kind of industry, then it will not benefit anyone. Every industry has its own nature with different needs. One and same rule cannot be applied to everyone.

Apart from this, it is necessary to ensure technology up gradation, simple process of environmental clearance, and availability of raw material at cheap and uniform rates.

If the government and the industry create a transparent and logical system together, then the wood industry of Punjab can become an example across the country. This will not only increase employment but will also open new doors for export.

What is the status of the plantation project on Panchayat land?

There is 50 to 60 thousand acres of land in Punjab which is barren. Tree plantation can be done on this. If the government leases this land to industrialists, the availability of wood will increase. We are constantly requesting the government in this regard. We are trying to get through this project since two years.

This land should be allotted to us at the rate of five thousand rupees per acre annually. Because there is no production of any kind in this land. There is no facility for irrigation on this land. The groundwater level has gone down. Canal water does not reaches here. Therefore this land is barren. Using this land for tree plantation will generate income for the Panchayat, on one hand, while industry will get the timber abundantly.

Is any alternative to urea possible?

Efforts have definitely been made in this direction, but no concrete alternative has come up yet. If any alternative emerges in the future, it will definitely provide great relief to the industry. At present, the only solution is that technical urea should be available to all industries at the same price.

At present, the problem is that the production cost of those, using agricultural urea, is reduced. This creates price imbalance in the market. Therefore, there is a need that the price of urea should be the same for all the manufacturers. This will not affect the cost of production. This will bring balance in the market.

Is there is any demand for subsidy from the government for technical urea?

The biggest problem is that there is no proper supply of technical urea. Farmers are not getting sufficient urea and neither the industries. First of all, it should be ensured that there is a permanent and transparent supply of technical urea.

The government has implemented a new system for farmers, in which they will have to provide information about their land area, and urea will be distributed to them in the same proportion. This will automatically stop non-agricultural use.

If the price of urea becomes the same for everyone and all industries use only technical grade, then there will be transparency in competition and the production cost will also remain balanced.

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