Advisor Baseer reviews functioning of I&C Deptt

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan on Saturday chaired an introductory cum review meeting of the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Jammu at Udhyog Bhawan here.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Department, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi; Director Industries, Jammu Anoo Malhotra; Director-Finance, Industries and Commerce RC Kotwal; Managing Director SIDCO, Mohammad Harun; Managing Director SICOP Atul Sharma all General Managers of District Industries Centres of Jammu division.
The meeting assessed the leading activities taken by the Jammu province for strengthening the investment ecosystem in the Union Territory of J&K.
Speaking on the occasion, the Advisor said that while we are ushering into a phase of industrialisation, we have to walk systematically and need to attract potential investors having a clear objective. He said that Jammu and Kashmir has a huge potential for holding viable industrial units and also said that there is a need to weed out sick units which are non-starters based on certain parameters.
He also passed on necessary instructions to the officers for better coordination with special emphasis on DIC centres asking them to be proactive. He also said that the issues confronting the department should be brought to the notice of the higher authorities and need to be addressed in a more purposeful manner.
Emphasising on strict adherence to the timelines, the Advisor said that all instructions passed need to be replicated on ground and follow up action should be taken accordingly.
The Advisor also emphasised upon the officers to prioritize the aspirations of the entrepreneurs besides asking them to pursue the pending court cases vigorously so that they are taken to its logical conclusion.
He also exhorted upon J&K SIDCO and SICOP to effectively work for removing encroachments from the Industrial Estates, wherever it exists. About pendency of payments of Industrial units with various departments he sought the details of the same.
Earlier, Dwivedi stated that there is shortage of land bank for establishing new industries and highlighted the issue of locking of Industrial land where the allotees have failed to set up their units despite quite long periods of allotment.
He informed Advisor that even some entrepreneurs whose units have become sick and have closed down their activity are not interested to re-activate their units. He also informed the Advisor that 10 new Industrial Estates shall be set up in Kashmir by J&K SICOP by March 2021.
Director Industries, Jammu gave a detailed presentation outlining the current Industrial scenario including setting up of Industrial estates and major achievements of the department. She said that awareness programmes and webinars have been organised by the department in all districts of Jammu Division to highlight the benefits extended under JK Industrial Development Scheme.
She said that regular meetings with banks are being organised to create awareness for Atma Nirbhar Schemes among MSMEs. She also said that restoring industrial activities during the initial Covid 19 period pandemic was a huge challenge and was done successfully. She also said that the Directorate in collaboration with MSME Technology Development Centre Meerut has got machinery installed in ITI, RS Pura for Skill up-gradation.
She also highlighted the issues faced by the Industrial units which require appropriate interventions by the Government. The major issues highlighted by her included pendency of payments with various Departments against supplies made to them by industrial units, meeting the requirement of local employment in respect of GST re-imbursements and shifting of plastic units from non-conforming areas to conforming areas.
Advisor summed up the meeting with the remarks that all the directions of Commissioner Secretary be implemented within the desired timelines and no deviation shall be acceptable.