The local industry captains have accused the Haryana State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation (HSIIDC) of harassing the small and medium industrialists, imposing exorbitant penalties for small violations, delaying routine works like execution of title deeds for years and several other serious matters.

A number of local industrialists, assembled under the aegis of a joint forum comprising members of the Chamber of Industries of Udyog Vihar, Udyog Vihar Industries Association, Haryana Industries Association and Gurgaon Udyog Association staged a silent protest demonstration to press for the redress of their aforesaid grievances here today.

The protesters, carrying placards, marched from the CII convention hall to the HSIIDC building located in Udyog Vihar Phase-V here today. They also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Haryana Chief Minister to the HSIIDC DGM.

Later, talking to The Tribune, Col (retd) Raj Singla, the president of the Chamber of Industries of Udyog Vihar, maintained that they had been apprising the authorities concerned of their grievances for a long time, but to no avail.

Making startling revelations, Col Singla said instead of helping the small entrepreneurs, the HSIIDC had even issued letters to several banks, asking them not to finance the industrialists without their NOC.

He said there were a large number of plot owners who were yet to get the title deed of their plots even as many as 30 years of allotment and having paid all installments.

"The plots were allotted to us on freehold basis. But we are made to pay a heavy amount to the HSIIDC in the name of leasing fee," he asserted, alleging that they were made to pay as much as Rs 300 to Rs 600 per square metre penal rate in nearly all cases, as against the specified fee of Rs 15 and Rs 30 per square metre.

Col Singla further pointed out that they were made to pay exorbitant amounts even for small violation, much to their harassment.

The industry captain demanded that as a Municipal Corporation had been set up in Gurgaon and the development of Udyog Vihar been completed, it should be handed over to the Municipal Corporation.