I&C Minister, LG, top officers to attend
*Package hike, adjustment of more units on agenda
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 26: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be chairing a high-level Apex Committee meeting on industrial package in Jammu and Kashmir on May 30 in New Delhi which among others will be attended by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and top officers of MHA, DPIIT and JK UT administration.
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On the agenda of the meeting are two major issues including enhancement of Rs 28,400 crore worth industrial package and adjustment of 971 industrial units already registered under the package from Rs 7000 cr saved from reduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) and plant machinery cost.
“Several issues pertaining to promotion of industry in Jammu and Kashmir will figure at the Apex Committee meeting which has been scheduled for 4 PM at the Home Ministry on May 30,” official sources told the Excelsior. They said since the meeting is taking place after long time, a host of issues will be discussed.
Besides top officers of MHA and Industry and Commerce Ministry from the Government of India; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and senior I&C officials from Jammu and Kashmir will attend the meeting.
The Industry in the country and abroad besides the indigenous units have pinned a lot of hopes on the Apex Committee meeting.
Named as New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) which started on April 1, 2021 for Jammu and Kashmir amounting to Rs 28,400 crore, it will continue till 2037 but entire amount meant for incentives has already been exhausted with registration of 971 units. However, since there has been massive response to the scheme and more proposals have been received, the administration has sought increase in the package plus registration of more units from the saved amount, the officials said, adding that the registered units will avail incentives till 2037 and run their businesses in different parts of the Union Territory generating employment and other facilities.
Few days back, as exclusively reported by the Excelsior, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration had written to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the MHA to consider registration of around 150 more units from out of Rs 28,400 crore worth industrial package as nearly Rs 7,000 crore will be saved from reduced GST and plant machinery cost from 971 units already registered under the package.
Prior to this, the administration had also requested for increase in package from Rs 28,400 crore to Rs 75,000 crore as it will help in clearing 570 industrial units whose applications complete in all respects have already been received besides adding more units to boost industrialization in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pointing out that there will be around Rs 7000 crore worth savings from the reduced GST and after proper assessment of plant machinery as per the Industrial Promotion Policy, the officials said this amount is enough to adjust around 150 more industrial units.
“But an approval to this effect can only be given in the Apex Committee meeting,” the sources said.
As per the officials, if the package is extended beyond Rs 28,400 crore, then many more units will be registered.
It may be mentioned here that presently at least 570 applications complete in all respects have been pending with the Department of Industries for registrations.
The Central Government had in April 2021 unveiled Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy worth Rs 28,400 crore aimed at giving industrial boost to the UT and generate three lakh jobs. Later, it was presumed that number of the jobs generation from the policy could go up.
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