Srinagar, Feb 7: The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries-Kashmir (CCIK) in a statement have said that Jammu & Kashmir’s geographical and socio-economic context necessitated a context specific economic stimulus approach.
“The members of CCIK thought it essential to make some observations over the proposed Industrial policy to be implemented by the Govt. in Jammu & Kashmir. The members of the CCIK were of the unanimous view that Jammu and Kashmir deserves and requires a separate Industrial Policy as because it being geographically at a disadvantageous location. Also, in view of its weather conditions and paucity of energy (electricity) the working season and time, as required for vibrant industries, was limited and not available”, the statement received by Ziraat Times said.
The President of the CCIK, Latif a. Bhat, was of the opinion that Kashmir was not a place for heavy industries.
“This being geographically located at the far end in hilly regions, the freight component of its products is very very unfriendly, which makes the product highly uncompetitive in the open market. For this purpose, if the industrial sector has to survive, generally, the price preference given to the local industries by the Govt. has to continue for the bare survival of this sector”, he said.
The President CCIK also opined that electric demand charges also need to be reduced and the electricity duty imposed on it be adjusted with its GST.
“Since Kashmir was not meant for heavy industries, the existing industrial units did not have turnover of such kind as has been laid down for the purpose of lease of lands to the sector in the proposed Industrial Policy. The local Industrialists would not qualify for getting lease of lands. Therefore, it becomes all the more essential that a separate industrial policy be designed for Jammu and Kashmir”, the statement added.
“The conditionalities for registration of the existing units in the service sector are in the realm of ‘impossibility’. It would have been advisable that the existing service sector units presented a proof of their existence, not submission of documents like this, that and the other. This makes sense for fresh units, not for the existing ones”, Haseeb Renzu,
Secretary General said.
The CCIK feels that the Govt. should consider these submissions seriously and do the needful as requested for.
