Ludhiana, Jan 17 (KNN) The Ludhiana Bicycle industry on Monday lodged protest against the centre’s decision to make BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certified reflectors compulsory on bicycles from January 1, 2023.

The bicycle industry has threatened to go on a hunger strike if the demand of the industry are not met.

As per reports, the protest that was launched on Monday has been deferred for three days as local leadership of BJP assured United Cycle Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) members of finding a solution within three days.

Speaking about the pressing matter, UCPMA president D S Chawla said, “We are not against installation of reflectors, but we want the heavy fee to be reduced. Even the clause to punish manufacturers should be withdrawn because if reflectors are removed by the dealers or the cyclists, the manufacturers shouldn’t be held responsible for it.”

Former president of UCPMA, Charanjit Singh Vishwakarma said, “We are not against installation of reflectors on bicycles. We know these are for the safety of bicyclists. We are only against the rules by which manufacturers can also be penalised.”

“Bicycle manufacturers have been asked to install BIS-approved 10 reflectors on each bicycle and they also need to pay an annual fee of Rs 56,000 (including taxes) to BIS for annual audit of reflectors inside their manufacturing unit. They need to get certificate of conformity (CoC) from BIS annually,” he added.

Under the new guidelines issued by the government, any manufacturers who is found without reflectors can be jailed for two years and fined up to Rs 2 lakh as well.

Vishwakarma said that there are only four bicycle reflector manufacturers in India, out of which three are in Ludhiana and one in Delhi. The government has imposed a ban on import of bicycle reflectors from China and this will lead to forming a cartel.

“We should be allowed to buy reflectors from anywhere we like and the annual fee of BIS should be reduced for small and medium enterprises. As of now, it is the same for micro, small, medium as well as large industries,” he added.  (KNN Bureau)