Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 8: Association of Industries (AoI), Gangyal has alleged that Governor’s administration was hell bent to destroy industry in the State.
In an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Association (AoI) held under the chairmanship of Rattan Dogra, its president, entrepreneurs strongly deplored the threats of its parent Industries and Commerce Department circular aimed at retrieval of the duly allotted land under their possession. Entrepreneurs were furious that they kept their units functional despite over three decades long militancy prevalent in the State while officials apathy is hell bent upon destroying the local Micro/Small units. Entrepreneurs highly criticized this move which is absolutely and exclusively Jammu region centric.
Dogra alleged that this is blatant attempt by the Industries and Commerce Deptt to hide its inefficiency to effectively contribute towards rehabilitation of the already sick and or other local Micro/Small units which are struggling to survive due to wrong and detrimental Govt policies.
“ AoI considers it fit to apprise general public and authorities at the helm of affairs that no steps have been initiated to contain and /or arrest the spread of sickness amongst local Micro /Small units post adoption GST which has completely destroyed their competitive edge that existed under previous regime providing VAT remission,” Dogra added.
He further said that with much fanfare State Govt announced its Industrial Policy in March, 2016 to attract fresh investment. Association of Industries specially brought to the notice of the State Govt to correct various anomalies contained in the 2016 policy which Govt assured to undertake through procedural guidelines issued in July ,2017. The short comings in the industrial policy of 2016 and procedural guidelines of 2017 can simply be gauged by the fact that in absence of no provisions contained either in Industrial Policy of 2016 and the guidelines of 2017, the provisions as contained in earlier Industrial Policy of 2014 should be adopted for redressal of particular grievance if such is the case then where was the necessity for creation of new Industrial Policy/ procedural guidelines.
Dogra said Industrial policy of 2016 and procedural guidelines of 2016 should be instantly scrapped if the State Govt has any serious inclination to develop industries and industrial culture in the State. It appears that present Industrial Policy has been chalked out without any worthwhile participation of existing Industrial sector with the sole aim to promote and protect the vested interests of limited few.
“ Despite repeated reminders there is no set of Fiscal Incentives either for existing and /or ensuing Industrial units. Govt of India had extended special Fiscal package for development of Industries in J&K on lines with North Eastern state. The two other Himalayan States of Uttrakhand and Himachal were also extended similar package. Both UK/HP succeeded in attracting huge capital investment to generate large scale employment avenues while our state failed to do so due to large scale mishandling prevalent in each and every department connected with Industrial development. The AOI has sought intervention of Governor into the matter.
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