| JCCI Vice-Prez, Anil Gupta attends high level meet at Udyog Bhawan | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 7: Senior Vice-President of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Anil Gupta, attended a high-level meeting convened by the Director of Industries & Commerce at Udyog Bhawan to discuss the growing impact of LPG shortages on industrial units across Jammu & Kashmir.
The meeting was chaired by Commissioner/Secretary Industries & Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh, and focused on the hardships being faced by the industrial and service sectors due to the non-availability of LPG.
During the meeting, Anil Gupta expressed his gratitude to the Commissioner/Secretary and the Director for acknowledging the concerns of the industrial sector. He highlighted that industries in J&K are already operating under challenging conditions, as they procure raw materials from outside the Union Territory, incurring high inward freight costs. This significantly increases the cost of finished goods, making it difficult for local industries to compete in external markets.
Gupta emphasized that with most industrial incentives now discontinued, the LPG shortage has further worsened the situation, forcing several units towards partial or complete shutdown. He also pointed out that factory workers are struggling due to the lack of LPG, leading many to return to their native villages.
The crisis, he noted, is not limited to industries alone. Restaurants, hotels, and daily wage earners such as street food vendors are also severely affected, with many shutting down operations. With the upcoming wedding season-a crucial period for local businesses including caterers and traders-the shortage is expected to cause additional economic strain.
Calling the situation "alarming," Gupta urged the government to introduce a revival package for the industrial sector. He suggested measures such as the implementation of GECL, interest subvention schemes, and a special support package for labourers. He also stressed the need for timely release of pending industrial incentives, including full turnover incentives, in a time-bound manner.
He appreciated the administration's intervention, noting that approximately 70% of LPG supply to industrial units has already been restored, providing partial relief.
Commissioner/Secretary Vikramjit Singh, after listening to the concerns, assured that the government would take necessary steps to address the issues raised and support the affected sectors. |
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