Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 12: A team of office bearers of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Jammu led by its president Arun Gupta met Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta and had a cordial discussion on various demands and concerns raised by traders’ body regarding trade and industry in Jammu region.
The Chamber representatives stressed upon the Chief Secretary to permit banquet halls to accommodate 50% capacity of persons who have been administered both doses of COVID vaccine, allow sale and purchase of agriculture land by Mahajans, Khatris, Sikh, Jain etc by amending the Land Act, and relax policy and rules regarding renewal and obtaining of NOC by Bar Vendors in accordance with the other states of India and directions of High Court.
They urged Mehta to examine and find some modality to review the Excise Policy without violating the court orders to accommodate the old licensees who lost their source of income and rendered jobless. The CS was also requested to review permitting of Reliance Outlets in Jammu to protect the interests of small traders and define properly the Summer and Winter Capital of J&K in order to remove the apprehensions regarding the abandoning of Durbar move and introducing of e-filling arrangement.
The CCI team told CS that representatives of Chamber be invited and taken into confidence before imposing any decision or rule which directly or indirectly affect the trade and industry of Jammu. The team also emphasized on abolishing forthwith the Passenger Tax which is being levied on Commercial Vehicles at Lakhanpur, in accordance with the One Nation One Tax.
The Chamber representatives demanded that Cinema Halls be allowed with 50% capacity for the persons having taken both doses of COVID vaccine, rates of Sand and Bajri in mining be controlled and fast environmental clearances be issued, and Power Amensty/VAT amnesty scheme announced last year be extended further.
The Chief Secretary while giving a passionate hearing on all the demands in details assured the visiting team that all their demands shall be taken on with the concerned departments and also be pursued with the Lieutenant Governor of J&K. Necessary action shall be taken on all the genuine grievances of the traders as per rules on the subject, he asserted.
Anil Gupta (senior vice president, CCI Jammu), Gaurav Gupta (secretary general) and Rajesh Gupta (secretary) were part of the delegation.
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