Chandigarh, Mar 23 (KNN) Amid crippled situation due to coronavirus which has impacted trade and industry of the state, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Punjab have demanded to postpone the dates of dues such as property tax, water sewage tax and excise duty.
 
All Industries and Trade Forum (AITF) in a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh informed said, ''We are very thankful to the government of Punjab for doing all endeavors to save its citizens from the havoc of COVID19. This epidemic is also impacting the trade and industry of the state in various ways. The industries are on the verge of closure and facing very tough time.''

Citing that industries here, are not in position to pay electricity bills, AITF has requested Captain Singh to postpone the same, to support trade and industry for its survival.

''The industry is having the payment crunch so is not in a position to deposit the electricity bills, as such it is requested that the same should be postponed for a period of at least two months,'' the letter read.

The consents such as PPCB or PUDA should be automatically enhanced for a period of six months without any paper formality. New NOC's or Consents should be issued immediately without paperwork, the letter added.

 AITF has also requested that the departments should be told to receive all requests electronically and requirement of papers should be called off for suitable time period.

''The GST department should be ordered to release all refunds without any delay and paper work, All inspections or visits of officers should be banned, The date of supply of material in state government tenders requires to be extended, The health department should be ordered to circulate free sanitizers, gloves & masks in workers colonies, All dates of hearings and cases of various departments should be extended for a suitable periods,'' AITF requested.