Ponty Chadha maybe having good luck at the liquor front but he has also got for himself some really upset competitors. Reasons for this are the recent government-conducted liquor auctions in Punjab where the tycoon walked off with a monopoly of the trade. Bidders and other organisations have been raising their voices against the auctions calling them a farce, especially since the media as well as many bidders were not permitted to even enter the grounds, while the bidding was going on. The tycoon of course denies there is any hanky-panky, while the government smiles as it has gained revenues of more than Rs 20 crore. Chadha may have his way in the liquor department but his luck is not with him in other matters. The tycoon was busy working on building an industrial park at Mohali which in a sudden turn of events has now been put on hold. The Punjab government has set up a committee with the duty of coming out with suggestions for a policy on the allotment of land. The suggestions include clauses like the allotment of parks should be through competitive bidding. There should be special criteria laid out for those who wish to take part in the bidding process. A policy for the allotment of land for multiplexes though competitive bidding, is also being considered. Where the price of an industrial plot is to be five times less than that of land being used for a multiplex. While the committee waits for the Cabinet’s nod to the changed industrial policy, the tycoon is fidgeting in his chair. And more so since Quark which also had plans to build an industrial park at Mohali, was given the green signal regardless of the committee’s suggestions, but the tycoon was told to hang on. After all just because you get your way once, doesn’t mean you’ll get it again and again.Mahindra’s worryWhile the tycoon has launched TV campaigns and tied up with other companies for his Club Mahindra, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts is still unfortunately in the red with a debt of Rs 25 crore. But Anand Mahindra is not giving up. On the advise of McKinsey & Co the tycoon is now shifting from his Club Mahindra brand name to move into the mass market segment of the time share industry. Through the launch of a new brand name and the setting up of new resorts apart from his present 10, the tycoon hopes to increase his share in the $60 billion holiday industry, by next year. Will consumers partake in his plans? One wonders considering the number of cases of fraudulent companies that have come out and given the industry a bad name. Mahindra will hopefully not get bitten by this problem as he goes even more mass market than before.Dilip Cherian runs public relations firm Perfect Relations. He is an economy watcher and tycoon tracker. Send your insider dope to dilipcherian@now-india.net
