Srinagar – In a move to strengthen the business climate in Jammu & Kashmir, Vicky Shaw, Chairman of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) Kashmir, held a high-level meeting today with the Government of India’s Task Force on regulatory reforms, led by K.K. Pathak (IAS), Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat.
The meeting was also attended by Vikramjit Singh (IPS), Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, J&K; Khalid Majeed (JKAS), Director, Industries and Commerce Kashmir; Arun Manhas (JKAS), Director, Industries and Commerce Jammu; alongside senior industry stakeholders.
The discussions focused on actionable reforms to enhance the Union Territory’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) rankings and streamline its regulatory framework. Shaw stressed the importance of time-bound, outcome-driven reforms to create a more business-friendly and investment-ready environment in the region.
Key Recommendations Submitted by PHDCCI:
-
Single-Window Clearance: Establishment of a unified approval mechanism for all industrial and service sector applications and schemes.
-
Simplified Compliance: Streamlining of Pollution Control Board NOCs and fast-tracking feasibility and power sanctions from the Power Development Department.
-
Land & Infrastructure: Ensuring availability of developed industrial land, creating Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in industrial estates, and gradual activation of Town Planning Scheme (TPS) zones.
-
Rationalisation of Charges: Updating Change of Land Use (CLU) charges and modernising land-use classifications in the Master Plan.
-
Urban Growth & Construction: Recommendations included higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR), flexible Right of Way (ROW) norms, and harmonisation of municipal and development authority master plans.
-
Industry-Specific Reforms: Proposals for unified national registration for construction equipment, exemptions for off-road machinery from redundant inspections, and a single-window clearance for private schools. Additional suggestions were made for fee regulation of budget schools and establishing a state-level empowered committee for education reforms.
-
Tourism & Hospitality: Advocated for automatic renewal of licenses for existing tourism units and relaxation of land title and CLU norms for already operational units.
-
Governance & Accountability: Called for strict implementation deadlines of the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) and linking EODB outcomes to the Annual Performance Reports (APR) of government officials to ensure accountability and reform execution.
