Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has urged upon the Government to make some amendments in the proposed laws in the J&K UT specially with regard to Land and Revenue Act, introduction of riders in purchase of land, ensuring job security to J&K youth and abolish Excise Toll Post at Lakhanpur.
Addressing a press conference here this evening, JCCI president Rakesh Gupta said that a meeting of presidents of all affiliated associations of Trade, Industry, Transport and Tourism was held here today in which various issues related to the State were discussed. The members expressed their apprehensions on some important issues and also projected suggestions.
Referring to those issues, Gupta said that many stake holders gave suggestions which also include some amendments in Land and revenue Act, as it was a source of major corruption and harassment, reservation in jobs/ job security to J&K youth, introduction of riders in purchase of land, abolition of Excise Toll Tax at Lakhanpur, incentive package for old and new industries and rehabilitation policy for traders in case they are forced to shut down. He said the JCCI shall strongly take up these issues with the Government.
Gupta said at present the problems being faced by the business class across the state is regarding Income Tax returns / GST returns and generation of E-way bills. He said Chamber would take up matter with the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the GST Council. He said that Chamber was not raising the demands regarding restoration of Internet as the Chamber has always stood by the Government as far as law, order and security concerns were of prime most importance.
JCCI president blamed one of the Advisors to the Governor for irresponsible and insincere working. He claimed that JCCI sent an urgent communication to the Governor and Ministry of Home Affairs for taking urgent notice of the issues. “The JCCI has been fighting against corruption and non- performance by the people at the helm of affairs in the administration. We would like to request Governor to kindly and urgently review the functioning of major departments like PDD, PHE, Finance, Housing, Municipality and JDA as we feel that if at all these departments had some fixed parameters and were accountable for their working then not only the business community but the people at large would not have been going through hell what they are going through at present.”
Rakesh alleged that Finance department has misguided the State Administrative Council to increase the one time tax on vehicles from approximately 1.77% to 9% without any rational resulting into loss of sales in the Automobile sector, loss of revenue to the Government and threatening thousands of skilled and unskilled job holders. Finance department has not been polling its share as agreed social corporate responsibility corpus in the Excise Department wherein the Wine dealers have contributed more than Rs 2.5 cr towards the de-addiction initiatives wherein an equal amount was to be pooled in by the Finance department to the Excise Commissioner. The JCCI office bearers were also present.
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