Govt to offer scheme to firms for repaying loan

A senior official of the department said the state government had provided financial assistance of Rs 173 crore to 48 sick industrial houses so that they could revive. The assistance was provided in two phases. In the first phase, 19 industrial units were given Rs 30 crore cash loan. This was followed by sales tax exemption to 29 industrial houses which amounted to Rs 143 crore.

Out of Rs 173 crore, only 48 crore have been recovered from the industrial units. Some of the companies did not repay the principal loan and the interest accrued, the official said. It was also found that the industrial houses that were given cash loan used the monetary assistance to repay bank loan they had taken earlier. “The assistance was given to revive the industries. But it was used to repay bank liabilities,” the official said.

The sales tax exemption facility was given to them on condition that they will repay the amount within a definite period. While some of the companies were asked to repay the loan with interest by 2009, the deadline for repayment for some other companies were 2010 and 2011.

“After the deadline expired, it was found that several companies did not return the money. Despite persuasion, they did not respond to the state’s appeal to repay

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