UCPMA urges govt to defer compulsory installation of reflectors on new bicycles

Ludhiana, Jan 20 (KNN) The United Cycles And Parts Association (UCPMA) delegation led by president D S Chawla on Thursday met with Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State Som Parkash to discuss the ongoing issue regarding the compulsory installation of BIS approved reflectors on new Bicycles.

During the meet, the bicycle industry has urged the government to defer the implementation date of the new rule and reduce the annual fee of Rs 56, 000.

As per reports, since the implementation of the rule, the Ludhiana’s bicycle industry has hardly done any manufacturing.

Under the new rule, in case of a rule violation, penal action can be taken against the manufacturer and the violator can be jailed for two years and fined up to Rs 2 lakh as well.

The UCPMA delegation was accompanied by a team of Punjab BJP leaders.

Sources said that the Union minister has asked BIS to look into the issue of fee reduction and also to make some relaxations in the rule, according to a report in the Indian Express.

Punjab BJP general secretary Jeevan Gupta said, “Ministers listened to the delegation patiently and assured the team of providing some solution to the ‘problem’.” Another meeting on the same issue has been arranged on January 24, he added.

Speaking about the ongoing matter, Charanjit Singh Vishwakarma, past president of UCPMA, said, “As of now the rule stands intact. Another meeting has been convened on January 24. We haven’t been doing any sale-purchase since January 1 as we haven’t found any immediate solution yet. The ministry hasn’t assured the delegation of deferring the decision, or relaxation in the rule so far. I think the ministry just tried to befool the industry.”

It may be noted that industrialists had observed a hunger strike on January 16 outside UCPMA office on this issue, but it was ended after local BJP leaders assured them of finding some solution within 72 hours.

BJP state treasurer Gurdev Sharma Debi and Ludhiana BJP chief Rajneesh Dhiman, among others, were part of the team that went to Delhi.  (KNN Bureau)