Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 28: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Jammu today expressed strong resentment over the non-acceptance of the demands and points raised by the Jammu Chamber during the previous budget and even thereafter.
Addressing a press conference here today, Chamber president Rakesh Gupta projected the burning issues being faced by the business community due to non acceptance of genuine demands by the State Government in the previous budgets.
Mr Gupta listed the major issues that have become a cause of concern for the business people who have demanded amnesty policy on GST/Excise/ VAT recoveries wherein the Principal amount could be paid and the interest and penalty be waived off whether in case of recovery on account of delayed payments or misclassification of products in VAT Act.
The Chamber president also condemned the service tax on the sports category and alleged that State Government is hell bent on devastating the economy of Jammu where entertainment tax on indoor activities like 5D and 9D theaters, Video games, Rides has been imposed. The Chamber demanded exemption of any sort of tax on the same as it is with the great efforts and investments of entrepreneurs that such things have started coming up in Jammu.
The CCI president appealed the State Government for rationalization of VAT rates as compared to PAN India especially on Desi Ghee, soap, dry fruits, UPS, printing cartridges, Poly Carbonates sheets, Plastic sheets, file covers and automobiles in CSD to 5% and also exempt the software needed for billing purposes from any sort of tax. Chamber also demanded exemption of VAT on all types of study materials used by students. He also demanded one time composite service tax on food being served at banquet halls and also enhance the COT from present Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs in case of small traders and Dhabawalas.
The Chamber also demanded exemption of VAT on all types of Shawls being mostly purchased by the incoming tourists. It also requested the Government to allocate ample funds for creation of new wholesale markets, IT Parks, cold storages and affordable houses for all and extension for regularly exempted goods. They also sought exemption of Toll Tax on import of fresh fruit and vegetables on the same lines of exemption on export of fresh fruits, so that the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables could come down which would be a great relief to the people. Chamber also demanded power amnesty scheme for all closed industrial units.
Sham Lal Langer, senior vice president, vice president, Deepak Aggarwal and secretary general Arun Gupta were also present.
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