STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) led by its General Secretary Gaurav Gupta met Chief Secretary A.K Mehta and highlighted various demands of the traders and industrialists besides the common masses of Jammu.
At the outset of the meeting, Gaurav raised the issue of unnecessary harassment of traders by way of anti-encroachment drive by JMC.
On the issue of Smart City, the CCI General Secretary asked the stakeholders not to venture in the walled city as the scope is marginal due to congestion and any change in the existing set-up will affect the established businesses which is undesirable.
The CCI representatives also demanded enhancement in the limit of E-way bill from the existing Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, ownership rights for sons of the soil entrepreneurs who have been allotted the industrial land, a scheme allowing ownership rights of lease hold industrial land to local entrepreneurs after a period of over 25 years, inclusion of separate clause of Land Value / Stamp Duty for Industrial Units claiming that existing commercial notified rates are too high, extension in validity period beyond June 30, 2022 upto at least one year for the industrial units, revisiting the Excise Policy to accommodate the old licensees, extension of VAT Amnesty Scheme, exclusive power amnesty scheme for commercial users viz traders and industrialists, amendment in Change in Land Use notification, and a daily Retreat Ceremony at Suchetgarh BOP to promote tourism.
The delegation said that tourism was declared as an industry in 1995 but the hotels and lodges were deprived of the benefits and now the tourism department has asked for renewal of licenses on annual basis thereby causing discrimination.
Another important issue which came for discussion was declaration of Gair Mumkin Khud by the Revenue Department despite the fact that no water body is passing through these lands.
As the period of lease deeds in respect of some allottees in Sabzi Mandi and Fruit Mandi Narwal have expired, therefore the Chamber appealed that their lease deeds should be renewed further after charging minimum possible premium.
The Chief Secretary gave a patient hearing to the visiting delegation and assured for early consideration of the aforesaid issues.
The delegation comprised of Rajiv Gupta Junior Vice President, Rajesh Gupta Secretary, Jagdish Langer, Pawan Gupta and Anil Gupta.
