Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 20: Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union Minister for Food Processing today visited Chamber House and interacted with office bearers and senior members of CCI besides heads/ representatives of the different trade bodies.
While speaking on the occasion, Arun Gupta president CCI apprised the Union Minister that nature has showered his blessings on UT of Jammu & Kashmir in nature of agricultural produce, organic produce, mineral and mining produce, but unfortunately people of Jammu are not getting due share of all these produces. The items which are produced in Kashmir Valley are apple, plump, walnuts, almonds and Kesar etc. while as in Jammu rice, Rajmah, grapes, guava etc. are produced in rich quantity.
Previously the food park were announced in Jammu and Kashmir and one food park was developed in Kashmir Valley but unfortunately Jammu was deprived of getting the benefit of developing the food park. It is requested that food park as well as food laboratories should be developed in all the districts of J&K.
Though the Union Government has imposed 100% import duty on walnuts to help the small growers but still small growers are not getting the sufficient price of their produce. It is requested to consider the quantity based tax on walnuts as is being done in case of almonds.
Gupta said when there was a State Industrial Policy, some items were brought in the category of negative list and the mustered oil was also one of the items mentioned in the said list. CCI requests to abolish the negative list and if any particular item is in the Union Government negative list that should be applicable in JKUT also.
While speaking on the occasion Union Minister said that the demand of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding tax on walnuts and abolition of negative list was genuine and he will definitely look into it. He said the government has introduced the new policy regarding food parks and now we are going to develop mini food parks instead of the food parks developed previously and anybody can avail the benefit of the schemes.
Those who were present in the meeting include Anil Gupta, senior vice president CCI, Rajeev Gupta, junior vice president CCI, Rajesh Gupta secretary CCI, Rajesh Gupta treasurer CCI, Shiv Partap Gupta, Rajendra Motial, Ravinder Sawhney, Sham Lal Langer, Krishan Lal Gupta, Vishwamitter Gupta, Jatinder Pinky Jain, Rajinder Parshad, Pooja Kapoor, Bimal Manchanda and presidents/representatives of different Bazar Associations.