Amid budget preparations, Jammu Chamber delegation meets CM

Jammu, Nov 19: Amid preparations for J&K Budget-2025-26, a delegation of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Tuesday met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with a slew of its demands, including ownership rights of leasehold industrial land to locals and restoration of Darbar Move.

The range of issues deliberated by the major trader body of Jammu region, during its maiden meeting with the Chief Minister, related to varied departments and not restricted to the Finance Department.

However, the meeting assumed significance as it occurred when budget preparations were also underway in a proactive manner.

November 20, 2024, is the target date, set by the J&K Finance Department, for consolidation and submission of Budget Estimates (BEs) of 2025-26 and Revised Estimates (REs) of 2024-25 by the Administrative departments.

As of now, the Chief Minister holds the charge of the Finance Minister as well.

J&K's Budget for the next fiscal will be presented after a hiatus of six years in its Legislative Assembly. However, the government has yet to take a call about the timing as to whether it will prefer the January-February session or will stick to its earlier February-March session.

Full text on greaterkashmir.com

As per officials, the situation will be clear in the next few days.

“Government should formulate a scheme allowing ownership rights of leasehold industrial land to local entrepreneurs i.e., sons of soil, after a period of 25 years of first or original allotment of land after charging a nominal amount as conversion fee,” was among JCCI’s key demands which also encompassed power amnesty scheme for commercial consumers.

The Chamber delegation, led by its President Arun Gupta, after extending greetings and welcoming Omar on assuming the office of Chief Minister UT of J&K, pointed out that the LG administration had resolved the issue relating to “Gair Mumkin Khad” by issuing an order in this regard. “The order should be now implemented in its true letter and spirit,” Gupta requested.

RESTORE DARBAR MOVE

During deliberations, Arun Gupta stressed that the annual “Darbar Move” process was aimed at maintaining communal harmony between the people of the Jammu and Kashmir regions. “We therefore request to restart the process of the annual Darbar move,” he urged the Chief Minister.

LAND ALLOTMENT CANCELLATION OF INDUSTRIAL PLOT HOLDERS

About the land allotment cancellation issue of the industrial plot holders, who could not establish their units and commence production within the stipulated time, it was requested that all the unit holders be given one more chance by giving an extension in time limit at least by 2-3 years so that they can arrange finance and complete their units.

Another major demand was that ownership rights should be given to the existing warehouse traders after charging a reasonable premium. “They should be provided land for go-down purposes,” the delegation suggested.

Another concern area for the chamber was that in spite of depositing the prescribed fee by the allottees, the project related to Shiv Market Railway Station was lingering on for the last more than 15 years so it should be expedited.

ANNOUNCE POWER AMNESTY SCHEME

The Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Power Development Department, was requested to announce a power amnesty scheme for commercial consumers (traders and industrialists) on the pattern of the domestic power amnesty scheme announced earlier.

Besides, he was apprised that almost all the PDD consumers were complaining of receiving inflated or excess power bills after the installation of smart meters. Therefore, a high-powered committee should be constituted to examine and resolve this issue at the earliest, it was demanded. “Moreover several smart meters installed at the electric poles have been damaged due to short circuits. All the smart meters including the damaged ones should be replaced with digital meters and should be installed at a readable height,” was another request.

DEARTH OF RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL COLONIES

It was pointed out that for more than three decades, the JDA and Housing Board had not established any commercial areas or residential colonies, resulting in their dearth, therefore steps should be taken to establish more commercial and residential areas to overcome this situation.

FOCUS ON TOURISM PROMOTION

With regard to tourism promotion, during the interaction, the Chamber delegation shared its concern that work on the beautification of Tawi River banks, freshwater lake and Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex was going on very slowly and it needed to be expedited.

Seeking the rejuvenation of Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) to develop it as a tourist hub by allowing commercial activities and construction of 5-star hotels over there, the delegation emphasised capturing great potential to attract religious tourists to Jammu province.

“Government should launch a promotion campaign to promote religious tourist circuit available in Jammu, for all religions, encompassing Mata Vaishno Devi, Raghunath Mandir, Jamwant cave near Peermitha, Pandava cave in Akhnoor, Shahdara Sharief in Rajouri, Nangali Sahib in Poonch, Budha Amar Nath in Mandi, Shivkhori, Uttervehni, Sarthal Devi, Sukrala Mata, Sudhmahadev and Machail Mata.  Besides this, the tourist places of Jammu which have remained untapped till now, including Pir Panchal mountain range in Poonch and Rajouri districts, Patnitop, Surinsar, Mansar, Sanasar, Bani, Basoli and Bhaderwah, Patnitop, Sanasar, Surinsar and Mansar should be developed on modern lines,” it was reiterated.

RENEW LEASE DEEDS OF ALLOTTEES IN NARWAL MANDI

The delegation also raised its demand for the renewal of expired lease deeds of some allottees of Sabzi Mandi and Fruit Mandi Narwal after charging the minimum possible premium.

Further, some allottees of Bahu Plaza commercial shops have not been given procession and lease deeds executed with them, the same should also be expedited, it was demanded.

With particular reference to Gandhi Nagar Housing Colony, developed in 1955, it was demanded that there should be no need to obtain NoC from JDA as well as the Housing Board for construction purposes in case of freehold rights properly.

Another point related to changing the land use of the residential areas where commercial activities have come up for the convenience of the local public.

JAMMU MASTER PLAN IN LIMBO

It was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that the Master Plan of Jammu, aimed at progressive reforms, was long pending. “Land has become very scarce and expensive. Master Plan reforms are awaiting clearance from the office of Chief Secretary,” it was stated while demanding the replacement of damaged water pipes to ensure clean drinking water.

UNSAFE BUS STAND BUILDING

Referring to the unsafe Bus Stand building, JCCI sought immediate steps to repair it. “Bus Stand area should be developed into a new multi-storey project and the existing businessmen working in the building should be rehabilitated on the analogy of the shopkeepers of newly constructed multi-storey projects so that their livelihood is not affected,” it was suggested.

Slow-paced development work of Transport Nagar Narwal by JDA, rehabilitation issue of shopkeepers of Nai Basti, Satwari whose business establishments have come under the ongoing fly-over project being constructed by National Highway Authority of India from Kunjwani to Satwari towards Women College Gandhi Nagar, and losses suffered by businessmen due to building demolitions, subsequent closure of their business by four-laning or widening of Jammu-Akhnoor Road and construction of fly-over and the challenges faced by flour millers due to insufficient wheat production too figured in the deliberations, which were positively responded to by the Chief Minister.

The JCCI delegation also comprised Anil Gupta, senior vice president; Rajeev Gupta, junior vice president; Manish Gupta, secretary general CCI; Rajesh Gupta, secretary CCI and Rajesh Gupta, treasurer.