Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 6: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Mohd Altaf Bukhari today urged the Union Finance Ministry to end the differential treatment with business fraternity of J&K and demanded a separate stimulus package covering the lockdown period since August 2019 in order to revive the business activity in this trouble-hit region.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari said it is extremely disheartening that the industry and other business communities of J&K have been superficially covered for the benefits of a special package of Rs 20, 000 crore announced by the Government of India to revive the shattered economy in the country.
However, he said, the industrial sector, trade and commerce activities in Jammu and Kashmir have come to a grinding halt since August 5, 2019. “Whatever, was left in the trade and other business activity, was crushed by COVID lockdown. Be it Agriculture, Horticulture, Tourism and Hotel industry, all the mainstay of J&K economy is under severe depression since August last year,” Bukhari added.
He further said that in Jammu region, the tourism and its allied sectors especially the hotel industry is completely shut by the suspension of Vaishno Devi Yatra. “Same is the case with Jammu’s agriculture sector especially its Basmati producing farmers who have suffered a huge financial distress because of the prevailing situation.”
Bukhari said the COVID pandemic has further squeezed all these economic sectors which can only be revived by a serious intervention of the Government of India. “To begin with the Government must go for interest subvention for the years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to agriculture, horticulture, tourism, hotel, and other industrial and business sectors of J&K and provide soft loans to them at least upto 30 per cent of their investments,” Bukhari said, while stressing on release of payment to MSME unit holder across Jammu and Kashmir.
JKAP leader also urged the Government to release long pending dues to MSME unit holders of Jammu and Srinagar which amounts to Rs 100 crores under Centre’s Saubhagya Scheme implemented by Power Development Department. “Similarly, the other MSME unit holders have around Rs 250 crores pending with various Government departments, PSU’s, especially SICOP. Though the SICOP has reportedly received the payment but is unnecessarily delaying its disbursement to the concerned unit holders who have completed their work long ago.”
He appealed the PM to intervene in order to end this discrepancy shown by the MoF and ensure a separate financial stimulus package for the J&K’ stake holders keeping in view the reported loss of around Rs 30, 000 crores since August 2019.
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