GUWAHATI, Nov 29? The North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA) has vehemently opposed West Bengal?s move to include North Bengal in North Eastern Council and called for immediate rescission of the move. This was stated in a press release.
Considering the move as ill-conceived, Sailen Baruah, NESSIA State president said that the association viewed that the proposed inclusion of North Bengal in the North Eastern Council would enable them to avail the same benefit of tax concession, excise and sibsidised power etc, under the North East industrial policy 1997, and will have a disastrous effect as the local industries.
It stated that NESSIA held a meeting with SSI and Cottage Industries Organisation over the issue which unanimously resolved to demand the Centre to retain the provision of the North Eastern Industrial policy, 1997, exclusively for the region and not to extend the same benefits to advanced States like West Bengal as the move will divert a substantial portion of NEC fund and further development will be slowed down.
Besides calling upon Chief Minister of Assam and NE States and MPs from the region to raise their opposition, NESSIA appealed the Prime Minister, Union Minister of DONER to take necessary action to desist the West Bengal Govt from taking the move.