26-05-2023: A delegation of Office Bearers of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Sr. Members from Trade and Industry called on Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Union Finance Minister at New Delhi.
At the outset Sh. Arun Gupta thanked the Union Finance Minister for giving an opportunity to interact and also put before her the problems being faced by Trade, Commerce, and Industry.
While speaking on the occasion Sh. Arun Gupta pleaded with Finance Minister that keeping in view the climatic, demographic conditions and security reasons the limit of e-way bills should be enhanced from Rs, 50000/- to Rs. 1 lakhs and the period of e-way bills should also be suitably enhanced in the smaller cities like Jammu.
Sh. Arun Gupta also requested the Hon’ble Finance Minister to enhance the date for filing of GSTR-3B and set up a GST tribunal at Jammu.
Further, the delayed payment Act which at present is applicable to MSME Registered Industrial Units only may please be made available for MSME registered firms also as they are not getting the benefit of the delayed payment act.
Sh. Arun Gupta apprised the Union Finance Minister that GST applicable on Dhabas and small traders should be withdrawn as they are not getting the input facility.
We also request that the smaller traders should not be penalized for meager technical mistakes. We also request that one-time GST amnesty for those who have not filed their proper returns or have not applied for GST refunds due to ignorance may kindly be given one time chance to file their returns and apply for a GST refund. We also request that a one-time VAT amnesty in our state be given for giving relief to the assesses.
Sh. Arun Gupta also briefed the Finance Minister that Jammu has a lot of tourist potential, but has been neglected so far. He requested the Finance Minister that steps should be taken to develop the untapped tourist places of Jammu. Further, the Suchetgarh Retreat ceremony be made a regular feature for all the days of the week.
President CCI Sh. Arun Gupta also requested the Hon’ble Finance Minister that in order to generate employment opportunities and flourish the ancillary units, the mother industry like Rail Coach Factory, Defence Equipment Manufacturing Factory, and Rail Container manufacturing factory be established in Jammu.
Sh. Arun Gupta thanked the Union Government for providing the Central Scheme Package of Rs. 28400/- crore for New Industries. This package is purely for New Industrial units only including the benefit of GST to be given only to the new Industrial undertakings as a result of which it will be very difficult/impossible for the existing Industrial Units of the Jammu region to survive and become viable, he said and requested that all the concessions which are being extended to the new Industrial Units may also be given to the existing Industrial Units to survive.
Further, he requested that the freight subsidy upto National Capital be provided to save the existing industries here.
Further Sh. Arun Gupta apprised the Finance Minister that the current central package has ignored the export manufacturers with no incentives.
To check the price pilferage and better flourishment of walnut industries, quantity-based tax be considered as is being done in the case of almonds. He also requested the finance minister to establish export promotion industrial parks and SEZ zones.
Sh. Arun Gupta also request the Finance Minister that 100% Income Tax exemption be provided to the export units.
Hon’ble Union Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman gave a patient hearing to the demands raised by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry and assured us that we will look into the issues related to their department and the issues pertaining to the other departments will be taken up with them on priority.
Besides CCI President Arun Gupta other delegation members comprise of Senior Vice President CCI Anil Gupta, Junior Vice President CCI Rajiv Gupta, General Secretary CCI Manish Gupta, Secretary CCI Rajesh Gupta, Treasurer CCI Rajesh Gupta, and President Traders Federation Ware House, Deepak Gupta, President Retailers Federation, Yashpaul Gupta, President JPDCL, Rajan Gupta, Ravinder Sawhney, Jagdish Langer, CA Pardeep Gandotra, Suraj Singh, Neeraj Gupta, Ravneesh Gulati, and Pragya Gandotra.