KCCI discusses key business issues with LG

Srinagar, Feb 3: President of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Javed Tenga met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Jammu to discuss a range of issues concerning the business community.

KCCI president sought the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor to announce an amnesty scheme for commercial power consumers, among other matters vital to the business sector. The deliberations aimed at addressing challenges faced by the business community and fostering a conducive environment for economic activities in Kashmir, a statement said.

President KCCI Javed Ahmad Tenga presented a range of crucial issues to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during their meeting in Jammu. The key concerns addressed included the renewal of tourism registration licenses for establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and houseboats under a Single Window System, aiming to streamline the cumbersome process that currently takes months or even years due to multiple departmental clearances.

Among the discussed topics were permissions for repairs, renovations, and reconstructions of hotels in prominent tourist destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, LCMA, and others.

Tenga emphasised the need for the effective implementation of industrial policies, proposing the allocation of quotas for locally produced items to support the struggling local industry. He advocated for the adoption of an ease of doing business and a Single Window System to foster industry growth, addressing the rising unemployment concerns in the state.

Another critical point raised was the removal of the cap on additional assistance for the Capex Budget. Tenga highlighted the importance of KCCI's participation in major international trade fairs to promote Kashmiri products, especially those with Geographical Indication (GI) tags like Pashmina, Carpets, and other certified items.

The meeting also discussed the urgent need for amnesty for commercial power consumers, drawing parallels with the amnesty granted to domestic consumers.

Tenga urged a halt to coercive actions against consumers, emphasizing that an amnesty would facilitate arrears recovery and provide relief to willing payers.

Considering the growing tourism arrivals, the expansion of Srinagar Airport was underscored as a pressing necessity. Tenga highlighted the inadequacies in the present infrastructure, causing inconvenience to travellers. The shortage of food and beverage vending joints in large, unused spaces was brought to attention, emphasizing the need for their utilization, the statement said.

Furthermore, Tenga called for the announcement of another One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) with a higher cap and longer duration. This, he argued, would benefit both J&K Bank for debt recovery and borrowers to regularize their accounts.

In response, according to the KCCI statement, LG assured the KCCI President that the raised issues were under serious consideration, pledging prompt resolutions, including the speedy implementation of the Power Amnesty/OTS Scheme. Tenga expressed gratitude for the Lt. Governor's time and consideration during the meeting, accompanied by Senior Vice President Ashaq Hussain Shangloo and Treasurer Zubair Mahajan.