Focus & thurst on Tourism projects can provide huge employment : FHRICJR,Hirak
SNS. KASHMIR.
JAMMU, OCTOBER 25 ;
A joint delegation of Federation of Hotels,Restaurants,Industry & Commerce of Jammu Region (FHRICJR) & Hotel & Restauranrt Association Katra (HRAK) comprising of their President Rakesh Wazir & Sr.Vice President FHRICJR & President Patnitop Hotels,Restaurants,& Bar Association Kushal Magotra call on Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah wherein Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology,Ministry of Earth Sciences and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office;Personnel,Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space Dr.Jitender Singh and Lt.Governor J&K Manoj Sinha were also present apprised that Tourism is back bone of J&K and focus and thrust on it will attract maximum investment and generate maximum employment in the Union territory.
Mr.Wazir while speaking on the occasion said that they are expecting huge investment in Tourism Projects if explored properly especially around Katra Vaishnodevi ji and at Tourist places like Shiv Khori,Bhaderwah,Patnitop,Jhajjar Kotli,Jammu etc. and thus suggested the Tourism related projects on Public Private partnership including Ropeways at Shiv Khori,Katra-Shankeracharya,Water entertainment park at Jhajjar Kotli,Light & Sound show/Amusement Park/Theme Park at Katra and want that these and other similar projects be cleared at the earliest.
He said that Tourism whether it is pilgrimage,adventure,leisure and even otherwise is the back bone of J&K and lacs & lacs of people come over here whether for, Vaishnodevi,Amarnath,ShivKhori,Patnitop Bhaderwah,Gulmarg,Pahalgam,Srinager etc. and attracts big chunk of people to our Union Territory and whole economy of UT is dependent on it and is basic source of employment overhere but the Tragedy is this that main component of it i.e. Hotel Industry is still struggling to get the basic incentives which the other sectors of Industry are getting.
He further said that previously hotels were provided with electricity at par with Industries but that practice too is dis banded just after one year and likewise there was no Tax on Lodging before GST regime was there at J&K but with the coming of GST regime the Taxes in the form of GST were imposed on Hotel Industry and later on refund of GST was started in various sectors including manufacturing Industry but hotel sector in industry is still struggling to get that and apprised the Minsiter that all the benefits which are being provided to other sectors of Industry be provided to Hotel Industry as well because hotels too are part of Industry and are covered under MSME and further said that till the time that is done GST slab in which no GST on room is imposed be increased in J&K from 1000 to 2500 in the first go.
He further said that there is need of customized schemes for all those units who have not availed any Business Loans.
He said that Industrial Parks around Katra which are already identified be started at the earliest and more are required to be explored with open usage ( except non polluting ) products particularly related to Vaishnodevi pilgrimage,Ayurved and products whose raw material is available around Katra like Chavanprash,Packed Vaishnodevi Prasads,Dry Fruits,Local Pickles,Masalas,Packed Honey,Vaishnodevi Patkas,Jute Bags,Vaishnodevi Chunries,Vaishnodevi Photographs etc.
Mr.Magotra raised the issue of dispensing with the dual registration of Hotels and said that there should be single window for registrations. He said that as on today there is dual registration with Tourism Department as well as with Industries department and request that registration with Tourism Department be waived off however all departments including Tourism may continue to have powers to see any irregularity and take action as per their norms and further said that this practice is already there in many states and emphasized that Moratorium of loans which have become bad due to Covid be increased further.
He even raised the issue of common sewerage treatment plant for whole Katra Vaishnodevi town so that polluted water may not go to the pious Ban Ganga and other clean water sources.
Mr.Shah listened the delegation patiently and assured that sympathetic consideration to each and every point will be given which pertains to him and the points which pertains to others will be taken up with them.