Virendra Gahwai, Bilaspur. The state executive meeting of the Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry was held for the first time today in Bilaspur. During the meeting, industry development, business-related problems, and their solutions were discussed in detail. This first-ever meeting in Bilaspur generated considerable enthusiasm among those associated with the chamber.
People involved in industry and trade in the region, including Bilaspur, said the meeting would openly discuss the region’s problems and find solutions. Serious discussions were held at the meeting regarding expanding the organization by connecting businessmen to it, as well as discussing in detail the problems of promoting industry and trade and transportation.
A day before the meeting, the resignation of Kamal Soni, the divisional executive president of the Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a member of the Constitutional Amendment Committee, has also sparked discussion. Kamal Soni has resigned from his post, citing imbalances in the Chamber’s functioning and constitution. He has long been demanding amendments to the Chamber’s constitution, balanced leadership, and equal representation for all divisions of the state.
The agenda for the August 9th executive meeting included constitutional amendments and issues related to Bilaspur traders, but these were later removed. Questioning Article 15 of the Constitution, he said that eligibility for key positions such as president, general secretary, and treasurer is limited to the Raipur and Naya Raipur regions, which prevents other regions of the state from receiving equal opportunities in the top leadership.
He says that leadership opportunities in an organization representing the entire state should be equal for all divisions. Soni also raised the demand for inclusion of Bilaspur in the State Capital Region and the development of an industrial park there.
He stated that Bilaspur has a high court, a railway zone, and important resources like coal, electricity, limestone, and water, yet the region’s industrial potential hasn’t received the attention it deserves. Regional imbalances have led to a surge in industrial migration from Bilaspur and other regions to Raipur in recent years. Meanwhile, Chamber officials have dismissed Kamal Soni’s demand as unreasonable and called the constitutional amendment a matter for the general assembly.