Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Nov 10: A joint delegation of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHDCCI), Jammu Region & Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra (HRAK) held a detailed meeting with Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh, who was accompanied by DC Reasi and other senior officers.
During the meeting, the delegation submitted a comprehensive memorandum highlighting critical demands and suggestions vital for the survival, sustenance, and growth of trade, commerce and industry, along with the revival and promotion of tourism across Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in the Jammu region.
President HRAK and Chairman PHDCCI Jammu Region, Rakesh Wazir urged the Government to extend the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS), which expired on 30 September 2024, with special provisions favouring local stakeholders. It was suggested that renovation and up-gradation of existing hotels, along with expansion of existing industrial units, be incorporated within the scheme.
The members emphasized that investors should be encouraged to invest in infrastructure-linked tourism projects such as large hotels, boarding schools, universities, medical colleges, multi-specialty hospitals, hotel management institutes and Haveli-type destination restaurants, which today significantly support health tourism, education tourism, spiritual tourism and adventure tourism.
HRAK Chairman, Shyam Lal Kesar requested that incentives presently available to industry should also be extended to existing hotel, industrial and service-sector units. It was pointed out that when GST was introduced, the hotel sector-earlier under the zero percent tax slab-was assured reimbursement, which is still awaited. Likewise, he added, industrial power tariff benefits available to hotels until 31 March 2019 should be restored.
HRAK Senior Vice President, Virender Kesar demanded Light & Sound Show on Maa Vaishno Devi’s history in Katra, infrastructural enhancement of Mansar Lake including battery-operated tourist vehicles, and establishment of an interactive tourism museum depicting Jammu’s heritage.
He also demanded beautification of Katra on the pattern of the Golden Temple and Chandni Chowk projects besides underground wiring and robust sanitation.
The delegation also requested early development of already identified industrial parks around Katra and exploration of new sites for non-polluting pilgrimage-linked industries to encourage production of Prasad, chavanprash, dry fruits, pickles, spices, honey, patkas, chunris, jute bags, photographs and other devotional products, thereby creating employment and value addition.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary Vikramjit Singh gave a patient hearing and assured sympathetic consideration of all issues.
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