The Hindu Business Line : Power reforms, infrastructure top CII southern region agenda

(From right) Dr B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Chairman, CII - Southern Region; Mr C.R. Swaminathan, Deputy Chairman, CII- Southern Region; and Mr Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman, CII - Tamil Nadu State Council, at a press conference in Chennai on Friday.

Our Bureau

Chennai, June 27

Pushing for power reforms, consolidation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) by 2010 and focus on infrastructure are among the agenda for the Confederation of Indian Industry - Southern Region, according to Dr B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Chairman, CII – Southern Region.

Addressing a press conference to present a 10-point agenda CII has framed for the development of the South India, Dr Reddy said that it has identified a number of areas where it would work with industry and Government for development.

These include medium- and long-term policy issues including infrastructure and taxation that would call for Government intervention to industry related issues covering development of MSMEs through cluster formation, skilled human resource and agriculture, corporate social responsibility and environment sustainability. These together are part of a larger goal that looks at South India at 75 (75 years post-independence).

On power reforms, Mr Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman, CII – Tamil Nadu, said that CII plans to develop a master plan proposal for South India.

It would look at a holistic solution to tackle the power deficit through development of infrastructure, including transmission and distribution to enable movement of power from surplus to deficit areas. A detailed study was on to study the reform measures in each State. This would disseminate information on best practices that others could emulate.

Power deficit in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu accounts for over 15-20 per cent loss in industrial production, he said.

Chennai airport

CII was looking at bringing experts from Singapore’s Changi airport to suggest measures to improve efficiencies of operation at the Chennai airport. There is an immediate need to expedite the expansion of the existing airport and setting up a greenfield airport.

CII also hopes to increase the awareness among its members of the benefits of a unified system of Goods and Services Tax, the next step forward from the present VAT regime.

There had been delays in shift to VAT due to a lack of awareness, he said.

More Stories on : Industry Associations | Infrastructure | Tamil Nadu

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