Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Federation of Industries Jammu (FoIJ) has expressed serious concern over the problems being faced by the industrial units in the State.
An emergency meeting of Federation of Industries Jammu was held here today under the chairmanship of Lalit Mahajan in presence of Rajesh Jain, Vijay Aggarwal, Ajit Bawa, Romesh Badyal co-chairmen FoIJ; SB Abrol secretary general, Ajay Langer convener and other office bearers of FoIJ to discuss the problems being faced by the Industrial units due to hurdles being created by the Departments related to the Industrial sector.
Members present in the meeting raised serious concern over the non- clearance of files of Industrial sector by the SIDCO, SICOP, Directorate of Industries Jammu/Kashmir and General Manager District Industries Centre across the State awaiting the clearance of guidelines by the Finance Department which is lying since ending December 2016 for the reason best known to the concerned officials.
They pointed out that the Industrial Policy 2004 expired in 2014 and subsequently extended and new Industrial Policy 2016 was announced in the month of March 2016 after a gap of two years with the efforts of our Industries Minister.
After going through the new Industrial Policy 2016, Federation of Industries Jammu/Kashmir noticed some shortcomings/ lacunae in the Policy guidelines which will create hurdles in the Industrial growth in our State. The matter in this concern was submitted to the Industries Minister for some modification/amendments in the guidelines and accordingly a proposal was submitted to the Finance Department by the Industries Department in the Month of December 2016 but till date nothing has been done resulting considerable delay in the Implementation of the Policy.
The issues related to the progress in the Industrialization in the State was discussed in the 6th Industrial Advisory Meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister on February 7, 2017 in which it was brought into our notice that the projects worth Rs 2500 crores were cleared by the Industries Department in last two years but on ground, little progress is noticed due to cumbersome procedures adopted by the Departments related to the Industrial sector which may resulting in to the overshooting of Project Cost clubbing with the uncertainty of Incentives under the GST Regime to the Industrial Sector of J & K and it is feared that the investment projected may be withdrawn by the prospective Unit holders.
The members also raised their concern in respect of non- release of pending payments of sanctioned claim amount of Rs 60 crores by the JKDFC in respect of capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy etc sanctioned since 2015.
They also stressed that fresh power connections be sanctioned by the designated committee and 24 hour power supply be ensured to the industrial area in the State.
FoIJ members urged upon Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Darbu and Industries Minister Chander Parkash to intervene into the matter and issue the necessary instructions to the concerned officials to clear the modifications/amendments in the New Policy 2016 as early as possible.
Follow our WhatsApp channel