Task force suggests remedies to improve Marathwada industry

aurangabad: the special force set up to study the industrial sickness in marathwada has recommended an increase in the classification of talukas in the region, sales tax exemption to khadi and rural industries and immediate disbursement of subsidy arrears worth rs 85 crore to them. head of the committee and minister of state for finance and energy rajendra darda submitted the committee’s report on the industrial scene in marathwada to chief minister vilasrao deshmukh on monday morning.submitted on the eve of the state cabinet meeting scheduled for april 9 and 10 in the city, the report assumes immense political significance. the cabinet meeting is expected review developmental issues, including the sluggish industrial scenario in marathwada. according to the report, 17.91 cent of the small industrial units and 22.47 per cent of the big units in the region have closed down due to inadequate funds, labour law hazards, delayed payments by big industries, recession, management and delay in distribution of government subsidies. the report recommends that the and ‘d’-class talukas in the region be considered as ‘d’ and d+’ to accelerate industrial growth in these areas. it also recommends the declaration of shendra as a special economic zone in view of the huge investment made in building the five-star midc of the state. it may be mentioned here that it was only after the task force submitted its interim report last year, that the government paid the small scale industries in marathwada subsidy arrears to the tune of rs 40 crore. the task force has said the institutions providing funds to small scale industries (ssis) should be vigilant and should take effective measures to prevent the units from falling sick. after the term loan is sanctioned by the msfc, it must be made mandatory for banks to supply adequate working capital. the other recommendations of the force include a separate industrial city status to all industrial estates in the region, making it mandatory for the government and semi-government departments to purchase their supplies from ssis, establishment of an agriculture export zone for facilitating export of the famous kesar mango and other fruits from the region, paying interest to ssis on every delayed payment by the government departments, an exemption in octroi to export-oriented units in all municipal corporation areas and publication of a list of industrial units which are to be resold by the msfc and sicom.