Bengaluru: Facing severe hardship due to the extended lockdown across the State, the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has urged for concessions from the State Government to the business community for the loss incurred during lockdown.

In a statement issued here yesterday, FKCCI President Perikal Sundar said: “We urge the State Government to waive fixed charges on power levied by State-run distributors on all industrial and commercial   establishments, which are reeling under the Covid-induced lockdown that has been extended till June 7.”

The trade body also asked the Government to defer payment of power and water bills by 3 months till August 31, as trading and business activities have come to a standstill due to the lockdown imposed since April 27 to contain the virus spread.

“The State Government should reduce property taxes and licence fee by 50 percent to all industries and commercial firms and defer their payment by 3 months,” reiterated Sundar.

“The State Government should reimburse salaries and wages paid to employees by traders, manufacturers, businesses and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for 3 months,” he said. 

Alternately, the Government should credit Rs. 10,000 per month in the Bank accounts of all employees working in the private sector, as a financial package, said the statement.

Though the lockdown has been further extended, the trade body said industries should be allowed to resume functioning from May 24, at least in Bengaluru, where Covid cases have come down since the last 10 days. “The Agriculture Producers Market Committee’s (APMC) Yards and businesses should be allowed to function from 6 am to 6 pm from May 24 to recover from the losses they have suffered due to the lockdown,” Sundar said.

In a related development, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has urged the Chief Minister to grant aid to all working in the Kannada film industry, popularly known as Sandalwood, as they have been facing financial crisis due to the extended lockdown.

“About 18,000 people employed in Sandalwood have been without work since April 27 when the lockdown was imposed and extended by another 5 weeks,” said KFCC Secretary N.M. Suresh in a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister.