JAMMU, May 28: Conference was held today at Chamber House regarding the burning issues being faced by the business world due to non acceptance e of genuine demands by the state government in the previous budgets. President Chamber of Commerce & Industry Sh. Rakesh Gupta listed the major issues that have become a pain in the neck of business people who have demanded amnesty policy on GST/Excise/ VAT recoveries wherein the Principle amount could be paid and the interest and penalty be waived off whether in case of recovery on account of delayed payments or misclassification of products in VAT act. The Chamber also condemn the service tax on the sports category e.g the GYM services. The Chamber also feels that the state government is hell bent on devastating the economy of Jammu where entertainment tax on indoor activities like 5D and 9D theaters, Video games, Rides has been imposed. The Chamber demands exemption of any sort of tax on the same as it is with the great efforts and investments of entrepreneurs that such things have started coming up in Jammu. The Chamber again appeals to the state government for rationalization of VAT rates as compared PAN India especially on Desi Ghee, Margine, Soap, Dry fruits, UPS, Printing Cartridges, Poly Carbonates sheets, Plastic sheets, file covers and automobiles in CSD to 5% and also exempt the software needed for billing purposes from any sort of tax. Chamber also demands exemption of VAT on all types of study materials used by students. Chamber also demands one time composite service tax on food being served at Banquet Halls and also enhance the COT from present 25 lacs to 50 lacs in case of small traders and Dhabawalas.
Chamber also demands exemption of VAT on all types of Shawls being mostly purchased by the incoming tourists. Chamber also requests the government to allocate ample funds for creation of new wholesale markets, IT Parks, Cold Storages and affordable houses for all. Chamber also demands extension for regularly exempted goods. The Chamber also demands exemption of toll tax on import of fresh fruit and vegetables on the same lines of exemption on export of fresh fruits, so that the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables could come down which would be a great relief to the people. The chamber also demands exemption on export of Rice husk so that the Rice Sheller industry could become viable.
Chamber strongly supports and demands power amnesty scheme for all closed industrial units and also the existing and running units as has been done previously in the domestic category. It was also demanded that Toll tax in Cricket Bats be exempted which will be a big boost in the sales for the local cricket Bat industry and also to give exemption of CST and submission of C-forms for sports goods as per policy adopted by UP Govt.
Chamber further demands enforcement of SRO 105 regarding entry tax on import of machinery and sports to be followed in letter and spirit at Lakhanpur Checkpost.
To give boost to ease of doing business in our state Chamber further demands that there should be no negative list with regard to toll tax and VAT for all industrial products baring items as envisaged in the negative list issued by GOI and toll tax exemption should be made available to all industrial units without submission of exemption forms and should be on self declaration of the entrepreneurs. We also demand creation of new industrial estates with all government facilities required. It is further demanded that delayed payment act should be implemented in letter and spirit and all the payments to be made by the treasuries to the Industrial units be made within a timeframe.
Chamber also requests the government that all the incentives available to the industrial units during VAT regime should continue after the implementation of the GST act.
The Chamber feels confused today after it appeared in the local news dailies that sale of loose Cigarettes, Beedies has been prohibited, as the Chamber does not see any logic behind this move which will rather boost the sale of Cigarettes and beedies taking toll not only on the economy factor of individual but also take a toll on their good health. Chamber feels that proper awareness, audio visual programs should be held in the schools, Colleges and Bazars so that people know the bad effects of tobacco on their health so that less people get addicted. The Chamber feels that prohibition have always led to illegal and spurious trade which would be disasters for the people at large. Chamber urges the government to withdraw this prohibition with immediate effect.
The Chamber feels elated on the announcement of allocation of budget for creation of two AIIMS both in Jammu and Srinagar which was the prime demand of the Chamber last year and asks business world and the people at large to celebrate on achievement of this historic milestone towards better health care and also thanks both the union and the state government for these sanction.
The other office bearers present in the Press Conference include Sh. Sham Lal Langer, Sr. Vice President, Sh. Deepak Aggarwal, Jr. Vice President, Sh. Arun Gupta, Secretary General, Sh. Rahul Mahajan, Secretary and SH. Ashu Gupta, Treasurer
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