A delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu today met LG Manoj Sinha and sought change in jurisdiction of Smart City from walled city to new Jammu city on the lines of Raipur in Chhattisgarh and change the limit for constructions near defence installations by making the same at par with other states across the nation.
The CCI delegation led by its President Arun Gupta called on LG Sinha and also submitted a memorandum raising the burning issues of the people of the region. The issues raised during the meeting include change in limit for constructions near army areas as in J&K the limit is 100 meters but in other states the same is only 10 meters, which is in accordance with defence ministry’s guidelines. The CCI team demanded the same limit as allowed in other states to maintain a clear line of sight for effective surveillance. The CCI said that at least in the municipal limits these restrictions shall be applicable upto 10 meters only and in other areas these restrictions should be upto 50 meters. Expressing gratitude for making Jammu Smart City, the delegation said that the walled city is quite congested therefore making it smart by uprooting traders on one pretext or the other is in no way justified therefore it is advisable to create a new Jammu city under the smart city on the pattern of Raipur Project that provided for creation of new city without disturbing the existing city in Chhattisgarh. The CCI delegation also appealed to LH Sinha for asking JDA and Housing Board to develop new residential areas and commercial sites as the same have not been established for over last three decades. It was also demanded that expired Lease Deeds of some allottees in Sabzi Mandi and Fruit Mandi Narwal should be renewed after charging the minimum possible premium. Similarly, issue of some commercial shops in Bahu Plaza area which were allotted to some persons but the possession was not given to allottees and no lease deeds have been executed was also raised and it was sought that the same be sorted out amicably. The CCI also sought revival of The Citizens Cooperative Bank Ltd. Jammu. The apex body of traders has asked for establishing new Public Sector Undertakings in Railways and Defence sectors on the pattern of other states to generate employment avenues in J&K. The President Arun Gupta also sought change in land titles in J&K as large chunks of land in Jammu have been declared as “Gair Mumkin Khud” by Revenue Department despite the fact that no water body is passing through these lands. It was said that registration and construction activities on these lands are barred therefore there is the need to redefine the “Kism” of this type of land and also a Policy should be formulated to allow the commercial and construction activities on these land chunks. Besides CCI demanded ownership rights for Industry/ Warehouse, incentives to existing industries also on the line of new policy, incentives to small entrepreneurs under new industrial policy by necessary amendments, and VAT and Power Amnesty Schemes. The CCI also took up the matter of cancellation of lease deeds and eviction of allottees in Industrial areas. The delegation said there are some plot holders in industrial areas who have obtained provisional registration but due to some reasons no effective steps were taken by them to start their units. It was demanded that their provisional registration be revalidated and should be provided one last opportunity to start their units under time bound manner within one year. The CCI also reiterated the demand of restoring the livelihood of Single JKEL-2 Liquor License Holders, who have lost their source of income. The LG Sinha assured that all the demands will be looked after and addressed on priority.
