Textile millers and engineers at a press conference Sunday urged the government to set up coal-based power plants to get rid of power crisis in the country that is hampering production in the industries.

They also proposed the authority to produce furnace oil and black carbon as alternative energy from wastages of cars’ tyre, rubber and plastic bottle that is cheap and environment friendly. The Institution of Textile Engineers and Technologies (ITET) organised the pre-budget press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.

They urged all political parties not to call any programme which hampers production in industries. They rather suggested all concerned to resolve all political disputes through discussions in order to save production in factories and country’s economy as well.

The leaders also urged the government for giving gas and electricity connections to the factories which were not able to come into operation since long. About 200-220 factories are ready for operation but they cannot start production as they are yet to get utilities connections.

Reading out the keynote paper, ITET President Md Masudur Rahman placed a 15-point proposal for consideration while preparing the next fiscal budget while its secretary general Md Anaet Hossain was also present.

ITET leaders emphasised establishing a textile park to ensure environment-friendly industrialisation.

It is not possible to set up separate effluent treatment plant (ETP) in every area like Tejgaon, Tongi, Fatulla and Gazipur, he said. Establishing a central effluent treatment plant under a textile park is necessary, they suggested.

They demanded reduction of duty on import of colours, chemicals and spare parts, lowering of corporate tax and interest rate on bank loans and extend the tax holiday period.