FCIK pitches for cancellation of license system for agro-wood-based industry

Srinagar, Jan 11: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged for the liberation of agro-wood-based industry from the license system to foster the growth and development of this vital activity.

In a statement, the apex industrial chamber while terming the "License Raj" as an oppressive system to keep wood-based enterprises of J&K has demanded its banishment to provide a fresh gust of liberalised environment to the activity, particularly to those industrial units that have had no impact on the nationalised forests.

FCIK has sought the intervention of the Financial Commissioner, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Dheeraj Gupta in the early removal of anomalies in the guidelines issued under SRO 321 of 2022 which contradicted the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) under S.O 3000 (E) at many places.

“Even though GOI was contemplating to further amend their guidelines to promote sustainable development of wood-based industries in the country to its potential on the persistent demand from business chambers across the country including FCIK, J&K forest officials wish to pursue archaic rules to whip the entrepreneurs," regretted FCIK.

FCIK has constantly been receiving complaints of heavy intervention in the operation of wood-based industrial units across Kashmir which was stifling this economic activity and hampering the smooth operations of concerned units.

While acknowledging the difficulties faced by the wood-based industry, the President FCIK Shahid Kamili intimated to the concerned that FCIK was vigorously following the issue for a meaningful resolution and in this regard has held two formal meetings with the Financial Commissioner and other top authorities of the forest department in recent months.

“Whereas many decisions to remove anomalies in the guidelines and easing out the renewal of license mechanism were taken in a meeting of  October 21, 2023, the formal orders were still awaited despite the record note of minutes having been issued on 13th of November," informed the President FCIK.

He said that the matter was again taken up with the Financial Commissioner with a fresh reminder and it was expected that formal orders would be issued at the earliest as per the verbal assurances given by him.

According to FCIK, the issues resolved in previous meetings but awaiting formal orders included the removal of anomalies in the exempted list of industries, approval of clusters of 5 or more units at par with industrial estates, the introduction of an auto-renewal mechanism for licenses after self-attested declarations and making licenses transferable upon sale, succession or change of constitution of the unit.