Srinagar, Nov 26: A team of KHAROF-KHARA have submitted memorandum of demands to government seeking allocation of adequate funds for carrying out promotional activities.
Ziraat Times here reproduces joint press statement issued by KHAROF-KHARA:
A team of KHAROF-KHARA held pre- budget meeting with Addl. Chief Secretary/Financial Commissioner Mr.Atul Dullo through VC organised at Commercial Taxes Department, Srinagar , on Thursday , 25 th of November,2021.At the beginning the team greeted him and recollected his association with Tourism sector during the period he was its Commissioner/Secretary and authored 2012 Tourism Policy which helped the trade in many ways. It hoped that having vast experience and knowledge of tourism he will help bail out the industry during the forthcoming budget proposals. The following points were taken up by the team:
1) Tourism in general and hospitality sector in particular having the potential of surpassing the Government in providing employment to skilled,in-skilled and trained persons needed to be given special focuss in the 2022-23 Budget.This will help the Government to address the growing unemployment problem in the State.
2)Tourism already having been declared as an Industry long time back still do not enjoy the benefits available to MSME’s.The benefits of power tariff and other incentives applicable to industry from time to time are not available to the Tourism/Hospitality sector/Hotel Industry because about 98% of the existing hotels/Guest Houses do not qualify under MSME/Industrial Policy and other schemes though these hotels have fulfilled the necessary requirements while establishing their units.In this respect the attention of Financial Commissioner was drawn to Government policy of 1975, 2004, 2012 etc and the inability to meet new requirements laid down after decades of their establishment.
3) The KHARA-KHAROF team expressed disappointment at the destruction of waterbodies due to flow of untreated waste into rivers, lakes etc in the absence of Common Sewage Water Treatment Plants for which provision of funds need to be kept in the forthcoming budget.His attention was drawn to the abundant natural resources which alone have in the past attracted tourists to the State and will continue to do so in case we conserve our Natural Resources otherwise tourism will become history.
4)The KHAROF-KHARA team suggested that tourism department should be granted adequate funds for promotional activities which should be judiciously used with use of latest technology and professionalism.The past practice of visiting venue after venue deserved a relook and review.
5)It was suggested that the cumbersome guidelines/NOC’s for various registrations, renewals , upgradation,entitlements, reconstruction etc needed review and relaxation in keeping with the changing times and Ease of Doing Business Norms.
5)It was brought to the notice of the Addl. Chief Secretary that keeping in view the peculiar conditions of Jammu & Kashmir and the disastrous effects of COVID-19 on the economy a distinction needed to be drawn between genuine borrowers who defaulted due to circumstances beyond their control and wilful defaulters.This distinction will be in line with the NPA policy of the Government.
6)The Additional Chief Secretary’s intervention was sought for stopping the raids by Commercial Taxes Departments on dealers whose appeals are pending with the appellate authorities. It was stressed that the disposal of appeals be expedited.
7)The KHAROF-KHARA team sought review of heavy increase in sanitation fee, that too, during No-Tourism footfall Post August 2019 period followed by COVID 2019.The increase if fee is very irrational and needs a reversal and review.
8)At the end KHARA- KHAROF team thanked the Addl.Chief Secretary/Financial Commissioner for patient hearing and hoped that the suggestions made will be seriously considered and addressed in the 2022-23 Budget.
The team led by KHAROF Past President Faiz Bakshi comprised of Secretary General Maqsood Misri and KHARA Joint Secretary General Mehboob Mir.
