Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 29: Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu, Federation of Industries (Jammu), Bari Brahmana Industries Association and Association of Industries Gangyal have taken strong exception to the circular issued by the PDD with regard to non-implementation of the amnesty scheme for industrialists, sick industries, hoteliers and tourist resorts owners, waiving off the interest, penalty and surcharge on power.
A joint emergency meeting of the Jammu Chamber and Industrial bodies was convened at Chamber House today to discuss the `unacceptable order’ issued by the Chief Engineer PDD Jammu. It was attended by Chairman Federation of Industries Jammu Lalit Mahajan, general secretary Bari Brahamana Industries Association Ajay Langer, senior vice president Bansi Lal Gupta and general secretary Pardeep Vaid, Association of Industries, Gangyal besides others.
Rakesh Gupta, president Chamber of Commerce & Industry apprised the members that the said circular issued by the Chief Engineer has not only left the stakeholders in shock but also shaken the bonding of trust between industrialists and the government. After threadbare discussions an urgent communication was sent to the Governor J&K State for his immediate intervention.
In the communication to the Governor the Industrialists sought necessary action with regard to the issuance of circular issued by the Chief Engineer PDD bearing No. CEJ/TS-I/Amnesty/14897-916 dated 27-09-2018. They alleged that the order sounds confrontational as it challenges the sanctity of budgetary commitment.
They said, infact, it was the budget announcement 2018-19 of the State Govt with regard to Amnesty Scheme for Industrialists, Hoteliers Tourist Resort owner, Small Scale Industries and Sick Industries-waiving off interest, penalty and surcharge on power dues; treating Hotel & Resort at par with Industries so far as payment of power tariff is concerned. This budget announcement was endorsed by the Finance Department vice order No. 273-FD of 2018, dated 05-06-2018 and Order No. 267-FD of 2018, dated 30-05-2018.
At first, the Finance department endorsed the same in May and June , 2018 and thereafter the SOP was to be formulated by the Power Development Department to implement the same and as per the terms of the Amnesty Scheme few installments had to be deposited by September 30, 2018.
That this circular in question issued by the Power Development Department was neither desirable nor is acceptable at any cost come what may and the same speaks volumes and appears to be like the administrative department of PDD J&K is a sort of government within the government. This order has created utter confusion among the stakeholders and many industrialists as it was issued just three days before the last deadline, Sept 30.
Seeking immediate intervention of the Governor, the CCI and Industrial bodies sought withdrawal of this circular and extension of at least three months in the deadline of fulfilling conditions for the Amnesty Scheme.
Meanwhile, the circular of the Chief Engineer, PDD (EM&RE) dated 27-09-2018 has said, ” Since the orders of the Finance department issued in May and June 2018, have not been approved by the Administrative Department, Power Development Department, J&K, it is advised not to implement the said orders.”
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