Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 6: In response to the support extended by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry on issues of common interest of trade, commerce and industry of Jammu & Kashmir and in the interests of persons engaged in such activities, both Chambers have decided to wage united and decisive struggle, highlighting the numerous focus areas and specific interventions required by the State and Central Governments.
Addressing joint press conference today JCCI president, Rakesh Gupta and KCCI president Javed Ahmed Tenga said that with regard to policy matters and issues wherein there are divergent views, it has been decided that both the Chambers with respect to the sentiments and views of people of both the regions – will restrain themselves from raising such issues which may have a tendency to vitiate the environment, have political colours and are not directly related to trade, commerce and industry.
“We would like to address some principal areas where in both the Chambers feel that urgent and decisive intervention is required. On tourism promotion Chamber would like to advise the Government to have a systematic and professionally managed promotional campaign to promote leisure, adventure, religious and border tourism as we feel that the real potential of this sector is untapped. Although the Tourism Sector has been declared as an Industry in the year 1995 but the sector is being denied incentives as per the Industrial Policy by the Power Development Department,” they maintained.
On Master Plan, both the Chambers expressed grave concern and displeasure over the way the current Master Plans are being designed ignoring the ground realities and not taking into consideration the urgent requirement of changes to be made regarding land use, provisions for new commercial spaces, parking and other utilities, the building laws, floor area ratios, setbacks, zoning plans and permissible building heights are the areas, where both the Chambers have serious reservations.
Both the Chambers urged the State Government to extend till March 31, 2018 the Ordinance regarding the J&K Civic Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Act, 2014 as the Master Plan is yet be finalized.
On development projects, they urged the State Government to fix the deadlines for completion of all developmental projects being undertaken throughout the State as the delay in completion translates into cost escalations and ultimately these projects turn into financial nightmares for all the stakeholders.
Both the Chambers presidents felt anguished over the recent statement by the Deputy Chief Minister declaring the Artificial Lake Project on river Tawi as a big scam and non-viable as a project. The Chambers asked the DyCM to hold inquiry into the matter and fix responsibility on the officials/ persons concerned. The Chambers advised the Government to revisit the Artificial Lake Project in consultation with any of the IIT’s.
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