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| ASSOCHAM delegation called on Secretary Industries | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 29: A delegation of ASSOCHAM led by Manik Batra, Chairman and Dr M A Alim, Co-Chairman along with other members called on Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce in his office today.
They submitted a detailed memorandum regarding Package for Rehabilitation, revival and sustenance of existing Industrial and Service sector in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir .
While discussing, Manik mentioned that ASSOCHAM is of the view that at the first instance, all efforts should be made to ensure sustenance of existing units in both Industrial and Service sector. The existing units should be facilitated to expand and grow and then investments both in Industrial and Service Sector be made attractive and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir be made a preferred destination for investment throughout the country.
He suggested that there should be one Incentive policy which covers both Industrial and Service sector with similar incentives. Additional sector specific incentives can be added in Supplementary list to the basic Policy. Amongst various steps which ASSOCHAM suggested to the Government is the Package for Rehabilitation, Revival and Sustenance of existing Service and Industrial sector in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Specific policy on GST(CGST& SGST) and refunds. Infrastructure development of Industrial estates like Kangrail, Duty rationalization on Important of Walnut wholes vis-à-vis Walnut Kernels, Policy for conversion of Industrial Land into freehold on payment of a token premium to existing industrial units.
Dr Alim also touched upon the unavailability of continuous and reliable power supply. He mentioned that across the country Industrial plants works on 24 hours basis and achieve full production for almost 330-345 days in a year. However, due to highly unreliable and erratic power supply most of Industrial Units in J&K face production loss for almost 3-4months in a year, resulting in escalated cost of production. At the same time, operation of these plants on DG sets is not possible due to huge operational costs.
Sunil Gupta highlighted the issues being faced by the Cement and Steel Industry. He urged that the Government continuation of Toll Tax to safe guard the Industrial Sector and details of Cement Manufacturers & Steel Industry ( Jammu & Kashmir). He mentioned that the sector has received huge investment in the State and we have been working very hard and struggling to increase our capacities so that the State of J&K is self reliant in terms of requirement of cement.
At present the sector collectively producing around 1.2 Million Tons per annum, hence these units have long way to go before we can compete large plants in other states, only Himachal Pradesh who is collectively producing almost 30 Million tons of cement per annum. Moreover, the plants in other states are of very large scale and many of them being individually much large in capacity than all of us put together. Hence, it would be very difficult for these units to compete with them till these plants are also of significant scale along with other factor relating to infrastructure and business environment. Commissioner was also briefed that road side vending of products like cement , etc by traders from other states is taking place in Jammu thus resulting in loss of SGST as well as tremendous loss to the local traders and manufacturing community. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi gave a patient hearing to the issues and concerned raised by ASSOCHAM J&K and assured of full cooperation from his department. He also mentioned that he shall take up the issues of road connectivity and power with the concerned departments . |
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