Nothing for industry in the interim budget, says MCCIA

PUNE: Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture ( MCCIA) has expressed disappointment with the interim budget of Maharashtra government claiming that there is nothing for the industry and it does not mention anything about the Pune International Airport.

"There is nothing for the industry in the said interim budget. Except welfare schemes and some metro projects announcement, there is nothing in it. It's a definite pre election presentation.It is totally disheartening to note that in the presentation of the finance Minister, there is no mention of Pune's new international airport. He did mention that all permissions for New Mumbai Airport have been obtained.

Even it's been mentioned that this project would be completed by 2018, quite a tight schedule. But what about Pune International Airport schedule.

A meagre amount of Rs. 165 crores has been provided for the airport infrastructure development of Maharashtra Airports. There was a mention of Karad, Jalgaon, Akola,Shirdi but no mention of Pune Airport, said SK Jain, president, MCCIA.

MCCIA has also pointed out that the MSME segment has not received any reduction in power tariff. "Though the finance minister has granted a reduction of 20 % in the power tariff, its mainly for agriculture sector (getting metered supply), power loom sector. The MSME segment has not been covered under this.

It would have been a good gesture if the Maharashtra government would have extended some tax relief as has been done by the central fiance minister and other relief such as power tariff reduction to the large MSME segment considering the bad phase through which this segment is passing. There is no mention of relook at LBT considering the demand of the industry.

The government has provided a sum of Rs. 10 crores for the Maharashtra Technical University, a very meagre provision. In short an interim budget of no significance for the industry. The Ex -servicemen society of Pune gets 10 crores in this budget, that's the only achievement of Pune," Anant Sardeshmukh, director general, MCCIA.