KCCI meets J&K Chief Secretary; presents roadmap for economic development

13 July 2023

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Srinagar, July 13: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) met with Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta on Tuesday to discuss the business and overall economic situation of the region. The meeting was led by KCCI President Javed Ahmad Tenga and included Senior Vice President Ashiq Shangloo and Secretary General Faiz Bakshi.

According to a statement issued to Ziraat Times, during the meeting, the KCCI delegation discussed a number of issues, including:

The handicraft sector, including the need for a raw material bank, a Pashmina testing lab, and GI tagging.
The banking sector, including the need for a one-time settlement scheme and restructuring of loans.
The horticulture/agriculture sector, including the need for incentives for the horticulture sector and free movement of fruit-laden vehicles.
The industrial sector, including the need to address the decline in the industrial sector and inconsistencies between the old and new industrial policies.
The tourism sector, including the need for renewal of tourism registration licenses, ease of doing business, and construction of common STPs.
The general trade sector, including the need for amendments to the GST laws and amnesty under the Pre-GST VAT Act.
The transport sector, including the need to address the issue of fitness fees and repeated checking, and the absence of public transport during late evening hours.
The education sector, including the need for one-time registration for smaller private schools.
The IT sector, including the need for a separate IT park in Sheri Khas and the development of street food markets.

The Chief Secretary responded positively to most of the points raised by the KCCI delegation, the statement said. He noted that the government is committed to the economic development of the region and that he would take the suggestions made by the KCCI into consideration.

The KCCI delegation thanked the Chief Secretary for his time and for his positive response to their suggestions. They expressed confidence that the government would take the necessary steps to address the issues raised and to promote economic development in the region.

Sheri Khas revitalization plan

In addition to the above, the KCCI delegation also discussed the need for a revitalization plan for Sheri Khas, the core city of Srinagar. They suggested that the following steps be taken:

Shahri Khas should be included in the Srinagar Smart City plans with a separate plan for heritage conservation and economic revival.
A proper employment generation plan should be framed to provide employment to the unemployed youth of Shahri Khas.
Shahri Khas has the potential to be a hub of tourism owing to its heritage and artisan clusters. The area should be face lifted on the pattern of Chandni Chowk in Delhi.
The SDA shop lines on Nallah Mar etc built about 50 years ago are in bad condition. They should be renovated to give a heritage look to the area.
The heritage sites like Budshah Tomb are in abysmal condition. They should be restored and measures should be taken for their proper care and conservation.
Some fire stations with adequate equipment should be installed in Sheri Khas.
The sewerage and solid waste management issues of the river front need to be addressed urgently.
The historic Jamia Masjid (Grand Mosque) located at low level gets deluged with a normal rainfall. The long standing government plan of developing a corridor which will connect it with Islamia High School should be implemented.
Some areas may be identified for establishing Street Food Markets in Sheri Khas.

The KCCI delegation believes that these steps will help to revitalize Sheri Khas and make it a vibrant and attractive place to live, work, and visit, the statement added.