JAMMU, Sept 16: The Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Arun Gupta accompanied by other office bearers called on Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and apprised him about the problems and issues confronting the trade, industry and general public.
During meeting Gupta apprised the Chief Secretary that Government has failed to create enough additional colonies resulting in mushroom growth of unapproved and unauthorized colonies and maps of plots in these colonies are approved where as this facility is denied for the plots of housing board which are already approved by the Government.
He said the Gandhi Nagar was developed during 1955 and since then almost 4 generations are added and they are now separated and have individual portion on the same plot. Some persons have also sold their plots but their cases are pending for want of NOC and department is not issuing the NOC in these cases. He demanded that there should be no need to obtain the NOC from Housing Board or JDA in respect of the free hold property for constructions of building
JCCI president said that for the last three decades the JDA and the Housing Board have not established any commercial area or residential colony causing dearth of both commercial as well as residential area. The possibilities of same may be explored.
Arun Gupta pointed out that the Master Plan of Jammu is awaiting long pending progressive reforms. Land has become very scarce and expensive. J&K has the lowest FAR of 1.8 in the country with no provision of purchase of FAR up to 2.4 which is prevalent in other states. Master Plan reforms are awaiting clearance from the office of Chief Secretary.
He briefed the Chief Secretary that the work on the development and beautification of River Tawi Front project and creating water lake is going on very slow the same need to be expedited. Further , the work on the Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex is also going on at snail’s pace, it should be expedited besides the light and sound system be started over there at the earliest.
Chamber demanded that Patnitop should be developed as a tourist hub by allowing the commercial activities there on the pattern of Gulmarg and Phalgam in Kashmir Valley. The Tourist place of Jammu which have remained untapped till now should be developed on modern lines, which include perpanchal mountains range, tourist attractive places in Poonch and Rajouri districts, religiously important places of Shiv Khori, Sudhmahadev, Mata Vaishno Devi and tourists attractive places like Patnitop, Sanasar, Surinsar and Mansar.
He further said that the period of lease deeds in respect of some allottees in Sabzi Mandi and Fruit Mandi Narwal which has expired be renewed further after charging minimum possible premium and the allottees of commercial shops in Bahu Plaza have not been given possession and no lease deeds have been executed with them.
Gupta requested the Chief Secretary that steps should be taken to repair the old bus stand building which has been declared unsafe. This area of the bus stand should be developed into a new multistory project and the existing businessman working in the said building be rehabilitated on the analogy of the shopkeepers of newly constructed multistory project so that their livelihood is not effected.
The turnover incentives for the existing Industries for the year 2021-22 and 2022-23 be released for the industries without any capping at the earliest and there should be no negative list for the Industrial products being manufactured by the registered units as per the permanent registration certificate issued by J&K Industries Department. Gupta said that ownership rights should be given to the existing warehouse traders after charging reasonable premium.
