"The entire steel trade and
industry in Punjab has decided to shut down
their manufacturing units for the indefinite period from October 1. This
decision has been taken as we are being harassed unnecessarily by department
officials of Central Excise department," Mandi Gobindgarh Induction
Furnace Association President Mohinder Gupta told PTI today.
The call of induction furnace
owners has for the support of Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bhav
Nagar (Gujarat ) Steel Association and Import
and Export Association. When contacted, Central Excise Commissioner S J Singh
stressed that the department was taking steps under the law. "There is no
intention of the department to harass any one. We are taking steps as per
law," he said, adding that a meeting has been called tomorrow to listen to
industry's problems.
The industry accused the department
of conducting "unnecessary" checks of shipbreaking material
consignment coming from Bhavnagar in Gujarat and declaring the material as unfit for use in induction
furnaces.
"They are not allowing us to
sell shipbreaking material to traders and manufacturers on unwarranted
charges," said Gopal Krishan, induction furnace owner in Mandi Gobindarh.
Industry also said that traders in
Bhav Nagar in Gujarat were also facing
harassment because of "unwarranted" checks carried out by department,
resulting into hampering of trade.
"We are not going to tolerate
any kind of harassment forced upon us," said Krishan.
This is the second time within last
one month that the Central Excise department has been accused of causing
harassment to steel trade of Punjab .
Earlier, steel producers under the
banner of Confederation of Indian Steel Producers Association had shown their
anguish over the excise duty demand raised by the department from certain
rolling mill owners.
The association had charged the
department officials of adopting "pick and choose" approach by
demanding duty from "select" steel units.
Source: IBN Live. 27 September 2011
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