The JCCI today threatened the Governor's Administration of launching an agitation if the deliberate neglect of Jammu region is not stopped within a week. The JCCI president Rakesh Gupta while addressing a press conference 

explained the Media about the communication sent to the Hon’ble Governor regarding intentional Deliberate Neglect by Corrupt Officers in the State administration and served one weeks ultimatum for a high level meeting to be convened, failing which the Chamber and the Civil Society shall be left with no option but to launch an agitation for justice. The communication reads as under: 

Please treat this communication as most urgent and of utmost importance as we feel that the present administration is totally hellbent on destroying the State of J&K with almost no Accountability Policy  promoting corruption which has never ever happened before under a Governor’s rule. We would like to sum-up  certain burning issues for immediate redressal as below:

Tourism

We would like to bring to your kind notice that the projects under Prime Ministers  Development Package for J&K  have been totally neglected with  DPRs never submitted for the projects worth 1600 crores resulting into lapse of such huge funds. These include new Destinations, Information Centers, Way side  facilities, improvement of present and new National Highways and many other Developmental Projects.

We would also question the intentions of the State Administration regarding Zero Tourism Promotion Policy, a glaring example of which was non-participation of J&K Tourism Department in the biggest travel event in India “The Great Indian Travel Bazar” recently.

We would also like to point out that the benefit of Industrial Electricity Tariff to the Hotel Industry was sanctioned after series of representation and meetings with the government which has been withdrawn because of the non-working of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission(SERC). The same may be looked into and needful be done to save the already dying Hotel Industry.

Toll Tax at Lakhanpur 

 We feel completely confused and shattered that despite a high level committee constituted after our meeting with your goodselves which has already  submitted its report is gathering dust and the State Toll Tax at Lakhanpur continues to be levied on almost on all products as before which is neither justified nor tolerable.

Languishing Projects

We would also like to submit that many projects relating to Tourism especially in Jammu Province have missed many deadlines and we at Chamber and the Civil Society feel that these projects shall never see the light of the day and that such anti-Jammu Policies are intentional and deliberate and not a mere co-incidence. These projects include Mubarak Mandi Development, Artificial Lake on River Tawi, Suchetgarh Border Tourism, Bahu Gandola Project, Jamboo Zoo, Laser Musical light and sound system at Bagh-e-Bahu  and many other such projects.

Condition of National Highway 

We most humbly request your goodselves to immediately review the maintenance mechanism of Jammu-Srinagar-Ladakh National Highway as we feel that from Batote to Qazikund it has become a death trap for one and all and we suspect  that hundreds crores of  public money is being swindled on the pretext of maintenance of Highways.

We would also like to point out that the way the security agencies are dealing with the drivers of Trucks and Tankers is totally non-acceptable. The government should remember that these people are the ones who are maintaining the life line  for one and all, not only for  the common masses but also for the belt forces and the Army. These heavy vehicles are asked to halt from point to point on the National Highways & asked for heavy amount of bribes to continue their onwards journey. They are also being targeted by local “Adda Unions” on National Highway and charged at various points illegally which we feel amounts to looting as Trucks and Tankers have nothing to do with these “Adda Unions”

National Highway Movement Ban

We would like to bring to your kind notice that it is not only the common people of the State but also the business community who have been facing heavy losses because of the highway movement ban imposed for civil traffic for last many days. The Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry did not react before keeping in view the movement of the security forces because of the ongoing Loksabha elections. We request your goodselves to order immediate lifting of this highway movement ban of civil traffic.

Raghunath JI Mandir

We would also like to bring into your kind notice that Raghunath Ji Mandir at Raghunath Bazar is fast loosing its sanctity because of the hired Pujaries inside the complex who fleece the tourists & pilgrims with their demands of money. The bidding system for hiring Pujaries by the present management is not only against Hindu religion but also objectionable. We request your goodselves kindly to constitute a Board on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and take over the centuries old Raghunath Mandir Complex so that its sanctity is restored and its further development could take place.

Industry

Sir, we would also like to mention that despite lot of communications to the concerned, the Industrialists are suffering heavily on account of delayed payments to MSMEs especially by the PDD department in particular and late reimbursement of SGST. Also the registration process under the Investment Development Scheme is so cumbersome that hardly few people have been lucky to themselves registered.

Tarnished Corrupt Officers

Sir, we would not shy to say that few corrupt IAS Officers who had been transferred out of the State on account of poor performance and rampant corruption are back to powerful seats in the State and we demand  their immediate removal from important positions.

Sir, it is our earnest request that the above mentioned issues need your immediate intervention for solution as it is not only a matter of development and job opportunities but such polices of  intentional neglect going unpunished are  resulting into loss of Tourism, Youth taking to drugs and some joining militancy too. The JCCI squarely blames the State Administration for all this mess and we urge your goodselves to fix and convene a high level meeting on all these above mentioned important issues within one week or it shall be for the  first time in the history of J&K that JCCI and Civil Society shall launch an all out agitation under a Governors rule which shall not be in the interest of the trouble torn State.