Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today advised Union Government to change archaic laws, and bring transparency in the working of economic ministries to come out of economic slowdown, impinging the industrial growth of the country. Delivering keynote address in the national convention organized by Confederation of Indian Industry ‘Invest North’ at Gurgaon today, Mr. Badal said that our bureaucracy has yet to come out of mindset of ‘License Raj’ and Union Government would have to take proactive steps to unshackle the economic laws affecting the economic growth of the country. Advocating complete transparency in the decision making, coupled by minimizing discretion of the authorities , he said that such steps could restore the lost confidence of foreign institutional investors in ‘India’s Story’ and put our economy back on rails. Driving home the point, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government realizing the same problem had setup Governance Reforms Commission and on its advise had brought in historical changes in the state laws besides ensuring transparency in the decision making process. Underlining the need for transparency, Mr. Badal said that by making e-tendering mandatory, the Punjab Government could save 20 to 30% on project costs by breaking the age old nexus of engineers and the contractors. He said that now we are moving a step forward by ensuring e-payment through special software in which authorities could not stop the payment of contractors in expectation of gratification. Listing out the steps taken to check the harassment of general public, Mr. Badal said that abolition of affidavits, 25 key amendments in the Revenue Act to reduce the level of appeals, authorizing auto dealers to issue Registration Certificates of Vehicles, authorizing School Principals to issue Driving Licenses, Computerizing Land Records were some basic steps that made the interaction of public with authorities pleasant. He said that if Union Government had gone for e-tendering in allocation of 2G, 3G Spectrum or in Coal Blocks, there would not have been any question mark of corruption on the Union Government. He said that Union Government would have to shed its role of ‘Mai Baap’ culture, controlling all the strings of power and would have to delegate powers to states for balanced and accelerated growth of economy. Suggesting States Specific Regulation, Mr. Badal said that Union Government should not foist standardized programs and policies, schedules and rules all over the country as in perse country like India every state has its own strength and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, priorities and requirements. He said that State Government should be given leverage to mold the schemes according to the states requirement.Describing opening of Wagah Border for trade as a game changer for North India, Mr. Badal said that once given status of full port and allowed import and export of 6000 items, it could change the total economic profile of North India. Mr. Badal said that Punjab is waiting for the day when it would be allowed to export its agriculture produce including wheat and paddy directly to Pakistan and Central Asian Countries including Iran through road route. Mr. Badal said that he was going to Pakistan on Monday to explore the possibilities of further strengthening trade ties between Eastern and Western Punjab. He urged Union Government to expedite talks for laying oil pipelines from Iran and Kazakhstan to India that could reduce our energy bill substantially.
Speaking about Punjab’s Growth Model, Mr. Badal said that being a landlocked state, surrounded by tax heaven hill states Punjab focused on improving its infrastructure, road and air connectivity and making state power surplus to attract investments in the state. He said that he was regularly interacting with the 17 industrial giants, who were advising Punjab Government to recast its Industrial Promotion Policy. Mr. Badal said that we are thinking of giving Industrial Status to hospitality, health and real estate sector to attract Rs.1 lakh crore investments in next 4 years.Giving a Power Point presentation, Mr. Badal said that by plugging leakages, we were ensuring 25% VAT growth even during the economic recession. He said that we are pumping in Rs. 10,000 crore for strengthening Civic Infrastructure in 142 Cities of Punjab and another 13,000 crore for 12775 villages of the state. He said that we are putting up energy meters on all agri-pumps besides finalizing a plan of ‘Solar Clusters’ for agriculture sector that could save the state’s Rs. 750 crore annually. Mr. Badal said that Punjab is the first state in the country that has pided state into 7 clusters for Solid Waste Management and by March 2013 whole state would be covered by most scientific system and urban waste would generate power for the state. He said that Punjab was focusing on generating 400 MW power from Biomass in the state besides planning to harness 500 MW from Solar System. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission of India said that the Union government would continue its focus on infrastructure development particularly in energy sector and assured that by the end of this year every power plant ready for generation would get sufficient coal supply. He said that Foreign Direct Investment would proved to be beneficial for increasing investment as it would always have a positive impact for attracting investment. He categorically said that he don’t expect much rise in country’s present economy rate of around 5.8%. Appreciating the Punjab government’s initiative on solid waste management, he urged the other states to follow the suit. Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia released a KPMG report on ‘Scaling Northern Heights’. Mr. Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman Invest North 2012 and Vice-Chairman CII explained the theme of the conclave. Mr. Malvinder Mohan Singh, Co-Chairman Invest North 2012 and Chairman CII Northern region and Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General CII also expressed their views. Later talking to media persons, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed shock over the Union government’s decision to not to increase the MSP of Wheat and described it as a cruel joke for the farming community of the country particularly from the Wheat producing states. He said that Congress led UPA government has always remained biased to Punjab farmers as recently it had denied drought relief package of more the Rs.5000 crore to state farmers despite more than 50% less rains in the state. He said that on one hand cost of agri inputs including diesel and fertilizers were ever increasing putting more financial burden on the farming community and on the other hand the Union government was denying them their rightful due. He said that Parliament members of Shiromani Akali Dal would raise this issue forcefully in the ensuing Lok Sabha session.