New Delhi, June 9 (KNN) The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across industrial areas in the national capital are urging the Delhi Government to stop MCD from collecting conversion charges for transferring industrial areas under DSIIDC.

In this regard, the Delhi traders met industries minister Satyendra Jain urging him to ensure that all industrial clusters come under the DSIIDC

The traders highlighted the provisions under the Delhi Industrial Development, Operation and Maintenance Act, 2010 (DIDOM Act) that came into force from March 28, 2011.

As per the mandate, property owners in an industrial cluster willing to change the land use of property from industrial to commercial need to pay conversion charge to the DSIIDC.

The traders informed the minister that a factory owners’ forum has also moved court over the issue and the Delhi high court has issued notice to the municipal corporations.

Sanjay Gaur, President, Patparganj Functional Industrial Estate Entrepreneurs Association, told KNN, “ In 2010 a new industrial policy 2010-21 was declared by the Delhi Government. Basically under the policy, Government felt that high-tech, knowledge based, less polluting in high technical grade or services industries won’t be thrived until or unless the maintenance and infrastructure would not be according to them.”

“Because MCD was taking care of most of the industrial areas but the condition was very bad. Knowledge based industry workers don’t prefer to work in bad conditions,” he added.

They felt that a Delhi Industrial Development Operation Maintenance Act should be formed in which all industrial areas would be transferred under the DSIIDC, so that civic infrastructure improvement and upgradation can be done by DSIIDC, he said adding that they proposed to open a fund which can be used for the Industrial development.

That act was implemented in March 2011. After that Government had to face two problems, one is that Municipal Corporation of Delhi takes taxes from the industries across Delhi.

Delhi Factory Federation went to Court and demanded two things; they said when Industrial areas had been transferred under the DSIIDC, then why conversation charges are being taken by the MCD.

Second demand is that, “Under the Industrial policy of Delhi Government, the required industries have sent a letter from the Delhi Government saying that the activities are commercial but not industrial, but MCD takes it as a commercial activity, so why conversation of industrial activity to commercial activity?,” said Gaur.

High court took the cognizance of it and issued notices to Corporations. DSIIDC was also asked to be present.

All the Delhi industries want to come under the Delhi Government. Delhi Government called all the industry associations and assured that we will support you in court, he added.

MCD is not able to maintain the industrial area, the entrepreneur said. (KNN Bureau)