Power driven pump units' plea on BIS implementation

Coimbatore: The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers' Association (SIEMA), Coimbatore, has sought extension of time till September 30 for the SSI exemption granted to power driven pumps.

This would enable the manufacturers to conform to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.

Mr C.R. Swaminathan, President, SIEMA, has made a representation to the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, in this regard.

The Government has notified that in respect of power driven pumps designed for handling water, the SSI exemption was being restricted to only those pumps that conform to BIS norms.

The rule would come into force from April 1.

He said many tiny and small scale units in Coimbatore producing power driven pumps have obtained ISI licence only for a few models while other models, while meeting the BIS norms, do not have BIS marking.

He feared that the immediate implementation of this notification would hit these units.

Mr Swaminathan said securing BIS licence for a range of products would take a minimum of 4-5 months and suggested that the date of implementation of the notification might be put off to September 30.