JAMMU, Nov 19:A delegation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu today met the Hon’ble Chief Minister Sh. Omar Abdullah. At the outset Sh. Arun Gupta expressed heartiest congratulations and welcomed Sh. Omar Abdullah on assuming the Office of Chief Minister UT of J&K. During interaction Sh. Arun Gupta apprised the Chief Minister that the work on the beautification of Tawi River banks and creating a fresh water lake and Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is going on very slow the same should be expedited.
Sh. Arun Gupta also requested that the Patnitop Development Authority should be rejuvenated to develop it as a tourist hub by allowing commercial activities and construction of 5 star Hotels etc. over there.
Sh. Arun Gupta requested the Chief Minister that there is 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 to Mata Vaisho Devi, Raghunath Mandir, Jamwant Cave near peermitha, Pandav Cave in Akhnoor Shahdra Sharief in Rajouri, Nangala Sahab in Poonch and Budha Amar Nath in Mandi, Shivkhori, Uttervehni, Sarthal Devi, Sukrala Mata, Sudhmahadev, Machail Mata. Besides this the Tourist place of Jammu which have remained untapped till now, which include peerpanchal mountains range, tourist attractive places in Poonch & Rajouri districts, Patnitop, Surinsar, Mansar, Sanasar, Bani, Basoli and Bhaderwah, Patnitop, Sanasar, Surinsar and Mansar should be developed on modern lines.
During interaction Sh. Arun Gupta briefed the Chief Minister that inspite of depositing the prescribed fee by the allottee of Shiv Market Railway Station have not be executed since last more than `15 years the same should be expedited.
He also apprised the Chief Minister that the lease deeds of some allottees of Sabzi Mandi and Fruit Mandi Narwal have expired the same should be renewed after charging minimum possible premium. Further some allottee of Bahu Plaza commercial shops have not been given procession and lease deeds executed with them the same should also be expedited.
Sh. Arun Gupta apprised the Chief Minister that Gandhi Nagar Housing Colony was developed in year 1955 Since then almost 2-3 generations are added and the original owner is now with their not only grand children even in some cases great grand children, the same are now separated and have individual portions on the same plot. Further a few have sold their plots for the settlement of their children or their disease, all these cases are pending for want of NOC or transfer and department is not issuing NOC, this is un-justice by the department to the owner of the property. The plots at Gandhi Nagar are very large and to house the growth of the population it is advisable to allow the approval of maps and transfer part of plot. Further he requested the Chief Minister that there should be no need to obtain NOC from JDA as well as Housing for Board construction purpose etc in case of free hold rights properly.
Sh. Arun Gupta drew the attention of the Chief Minister for changing the land use of the residential areas where commercial activities have come up for the convenience of the local public. It is a fact that in absence of the sufficient commercial space made available by the government, the local entrepreneurs have converted a part of their residences for commercial use giving lifeline to the city.
Sh. Arun Gupta also demanded that the old damaged water pipes should be removed and fresh pipes be laid so that the people can get portable drinking water.
Government should formulate a scheme allowing ownership rights of leasehold Industrial land to local sons of soil / entrepreneurs after a period of 25 years of first/ original allotment of land after charging a nominal amount as conversion fee.
Sh. Arun Gupta briefed the Chief Minister that since last more than three decades the JDA/Housing Board have not established any Commercial areas or Residential colonies causing dearth of both commercial as well as residential colonies. We request that steps should be taken to establish more commercial /residential areas to overcome this situation.
He further requested the Chief Minister that ownership rights should be given to the existing warehouse traders after charging reasonable premium. He also said that they should be provided land for go-down purpose.
Sh. Arun Gupta said that LG administration has resolved the issue relating to Gair Mumkin Khad by issuing an order in this regard. He requested that the said order should be implemented in true letter and spirit.
He further said that 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.
Sh. Arun Gupta stressed that the annual Darbar Move process was aimed at maintaining communal harmony between the people of Jammu and Kashmir regions. We therefore request to restart the process of annual Darbar move.
He further said 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 multi-story project and the existing businessmen 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 development work of Transport Nagar Narwal which is being carried through JDA is going on at a very slow pace. The said work should be expedited and more funds released on need basis to get the work completed without any further delay.
Sh. Arun Gupta apprised the Chief Minister that almost all the PDD consumers are complaining of receiving inflated/excess power bills after the installation of Smart Meters, we request that a high powered committee should be constituted to examine and resolve the said issue at the earliest.
Moreover a number of Smart Meters installed at the Electric Polls have been damaged due to short circuit etc and requested all the smart meters including the damaged ones should be replaced with digital meters and installed a readable height.
Sh. Arun Gupta further requested the Chief Minister to announce power amnesty scheme for commercial consumers (Traders & Industrialists) on the pattern of domestic power amnesty scheme announced earlier.
Sh. Arun Gupta also discussed with Chief Minister the 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 have not been rehabilitated thus they have lost their livelihood.
They should be rehabilitated by providing them land for construction of their shops/business establishments so that they can earn livelihood for their families.
Further a number of businessmen suffered huge losses due to building demolition and subsequent closure of their business by four lanning/widening of Jammu-Akhnoor Road and construction of fly-over. Chamber is of the opinion that government should have relocate /rehabilitated the businessmen/ Industrialists before acting on the road widening project.
Sh. Arun Gupta also discussed with the Chief Minister regarding the land allotment cancellation issue of the Industrial Plot holders who could not establish their units and commence production within stipulated time. Mr. Gupta requested the Chief Minister that all the unit holders should be given one more chance by giving extension in time limit atleast by 2-3 years so that they can arrange finance and complete their units.
The other Office bearers who accompanied the delegation include Sh. Anil Gupta, Sr. Vice President CCI, Sh. Rajeev Gupta, Jr. Vice President CCI, Sh. Manish Gupta, Secretary General CCI, Sh. Rajesh Gupta, Secretary CCI and Sh. Rajesh Gupta, Treasurer
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