The much-awaited visit of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to the city to meet various industrial associations did not bring much cheer on the industry’s face. In his 50-minute long speech, which was organised at the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA), Badal junior promised the moon to industrialists before seeking their support for the coming general elections.

His speech did not generate much enthusiasm among city industrialists because most of the projects have already been announced a number of times. But Sukhbir said, “This is not a dream as everything will be a reality within two years.”

The only saving grace for the city’s business fraternity was uninterrupted power supply and metalling of the road leading to the venue just hours before the deputy CM was to arrive.

LMA general secretary K N S Kang said that Punjab’s industry is growing at 5 per cent as against the national growth rate of 7 per cent.

Vardhaman Chairman S P Oswal added, “There is a large scope of improvement and growth in the state provided the government looks after the competitiveness, productivity, simplification of procedures, restructuring, harnessing the energy of youth and takes some other measures to grow further.”

Badal stressed that if infrastructure is world class, industry will automatically grow for which power supply is a top priority. He said four thermal plants for the state are on the cards, which according to him will make Punjab power surplus by 2012.

He said that to give Ludhiana a makeover, a US-based company is conducting a survey. “After two years you won’t be able to recognise Ludhiana,” he said.

Industrialists too aired their views and said that due to poor infrastructure and unfavourable industrial policies, expansion of the industry in the state had stopped.

Anil Kumar, President, LMA, J R Singhal, Vice President, LMA,   Harish Rai Dhanda, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Satish Dhanda, Chairman,