In festive season, CTD creating hurdles: Traders

Traders during a protest against CTD on Saturday.
Traders during a protest against CTD on Saturday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Furious over the alleged atrocious attitude of State Commercial Taxes Department (CTD) officials, business community under the banner of Traders Federation Ware House-Nehru Market (TFWHNM) here has warned the Government of serious consequences if the CTD not mend ways.
A meeting of representatives of different trade bodies of Jammu was held here today under the chairmanship of Rattan Lal Mahajan, TFWHNM President to discuss the prevailing business situation in Jammu.
Speaking in the meeting TFWHNM General Secretary, Deepak Gupta alleged that CTD officials are creating hurdles for traders during peak hours of festive season least caring about losses suffered by the business community due to COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
He alleged that CTD officials are hell bent to damage the business interests of traders by putting Nakas at various places en-route Lakhanpur-Jammu where undue checking of vehicles carrying goods is done.
Gupta termed this whole process useless and said whatsoever material they are bringing from Lakhanpur is already checked by CTD itself at Lakhanpur and all the formalities are also fulfilled there only by the submission of GST through e-way bills.
“Hence there is no need to further check the vehicles by the authorities,” he said expressing concern over the behaviour of CTD officials who instead of providing a feasible atmosphere during the festive season has started undue interference in the working of traders posing serious blow to their business which is already in crisis due to instability in national and international markets due to the pandemic.
“Now when we are expecting good business turnover the way CTD officials are treating members of trading community has left no doubt that this festival season too will undergo the same fate as was in the first six months of this financial year,” he maintained.
“There are many technical flaws in the creation of e-way bills due to which problems are being faced,” Gupta said adding: “Presently we are working on 2G internet speed which creates problems and many times the portal is also overloaded. Apart from this the electricity too remains off for five-six hours a day and the CTD should also see all these problems.”
He further said that during the lockdown traders provided all possible help to the administration and distributed ration among the poor but now when the trade is coming on track the CTD is creating hurdles instead of helping the traders.
Gupta urged upon J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to intervene so that the traders of Jammu may heave a sigh of relief.
The meeting was attended by Yashpal Gupta, President Retailers Federation; Surinder Mahajan, President Raghunath Bazaar Businessmen Association; Anoop Mittal, President Kanak Mandi Traders Association; Prithvi Gupta, Ex-General Secretary CCI Jammu; Vinay Gupta, President Wholesale Cloth Merchants Association; Atul Rajpal, President Rajinder Bazaar Association; Kartar Chand, President Lakhdata Bazaar Association; Jainder Jain, President General Merchants Association; Amit Jandial, President Apsara Road Traders Association; Ravi Kant Gupta, President Wholesale Readymade Garments Association; Rajinder Gupta, President Link Road Association; Ramesh Tak, President Bus Stand Traders Welfare Association; Pooja Kapoor, President Residency Road Traders Association; Kirti Gupta, President Dal Merchant Association; Om Parkash Gupta, President Karyana Association; Bishan Dass Gupta, President Rice Merchant Association; Rajesh Bagotra, President Sugar Merchant Association; Pawan Gupta, President Arti Association; Sham Langer, Ex-General Secretary Ware House Association; Ajay Gupta, President Potato-Onion Traders Association; Dheeraj Mahajan, Sr. Vice President, Munish Mahajan, Jr. Vice President, Abhimanyu Gupta, Secretary and Vishal Gupta, Cashier of TFWHNM.