Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 16: Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce and General Administration Department Manoj Diwedi said that every effort would be made to establish an Industrial Estate around Katra wherein products particularly related to Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, Ayurved and products whose raw material is available around Katra like Chavanprash, packed Vaishno Devi Prasads, dry fruits, local pickles, spices, packed honey, Vaishno Devi patkas, jute bags, Vaishno Devi chunries and Vaishno Devi photographs would be established.
He stated this while interacting with a delegation of Hotel and Restaurant Association Katra. The delegation comprised of Association President Rakesh Wazir who is also mentor Jammu Region Chapter of PHDCCI, Association’s Chairman Shyam lal Kesar, Former President Shiv Kumar Sharma, Senior Vice President Virender Kesar, Vice Presidents Sumit Khajuria and Rohit Dubey.
Rakesh Wazir while speaking on the occasion said that establishment of such Industrial Estate besides adding on to the religious sentiments and Yog activity in the area will give employment to the people. He gave the example of Patanjali which is established in Haridwar.
Wazir further said that tourism has been declared as industry and likewise all the benefits of industry be provided to it as well like re-imbursement of GST and power tariff to hotels at par with industry. He elaborated that when GST was introduced and big taxes in the shape of GST were imposed on Hotel Industry which was at zero percent slab till then, it was assured that GST will be refunded but its refund is started in Industry but Hotel Industry is still waiting for start of refund of GST on the pattern of manufacturing industry and likewise industrial power tariff to hotels on the pattern of industry which was started and was operational till 31st March 2019 be re-started.
Shyam Lal Kesar requested Commissioner Secretary for starting free flow of yatra with removal of condition of Pre-COVID test, removal of Lakhanpur restrictions and early start of trains and inter-state buses.
Shiv Kumar Sharma and Virender Kesar also spoke on the occasion.
Diwedi listened to the delegation patiently and assured that sympathetic consideration to each and every point will be given.
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