While speaking to a delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association,Katra Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce & General Department Manoj Diwedi said that as requested by Association every effort would be made to establish an Industrial Estate around Katra wherein 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.would be established.
The delegation was comprised of Association President Rakesh Wazir who is also mentor Jammu Region Chapter of PHDCCI,Association’s Chairman Shyam lal Kesar,Former President Shiv Kumar Sharma,Sr.Vice President Virender Kesar,Vice Presidents Sumit Khajuria, Rohit Dubey etc.
Mr.Rakesh Wazir while speaking on the occasion said that establishment of such Industrial Estate besides adding on to the religious sentiments,Yog activity in the area will give employment to the people and gave the example of Patanjali which is established in Haridwar in this regard.
Mr.Wazir further said that Tourism has been declared as Industry and likewise all the benefits of Industry be provided to it as well like Re-imbursement of GST and Power Tariff to Hotels at par with Industry and elaborated that when GST was introduced and big taxes in the shape of GST were imposed on Hotel Industry which was at zero percent slab till then,it was assured that GST will be refunded but its refund is started in Industry but Hotel Industry is still waiting for start of refund of GST to hotel sector on the pattern of manufacturing Industry and likewise Industrial Power Tariff to hotels on the pattern of Industry which was started and was operational till 31st March 2019 be re started.
Mr.Shyam Lal Kesar while speaking on the occassion elaborated that J&K’s main economy and Industry is Tourism and it becomes important to safe guard it because with it not only economy and livelihood of Katra Vaishnodevi ji but whole state is dependent but situation on ground is this that where all religious and Tourism related places all over India are opened particularly in the competitive states like Utterakhand,Himachal,Rajasthan,Kerala,Goa etc. but on the contrary we still have closed all the things on one pretext or the other including pre-covid tests,not allowing of inter state buses,closure of trains etc. if this will continue we will get vanished in competition to other competitive states and even otherwise it is again against the national policy of government now i.e. “Jan Bhi Jahan Bhi’ and requested him for projecting the government for free flow of Yatra with removal of condition of pre-covid test and removal of lakhanpur restrictions and early start of Trains and Interstate buses. He said that Yatra slip besides being on line should be here at Katra itself for current Yatra slips as was here previously also for the convenience of pilgrims with proper social distancing.He further requested for defferment of bank re-payments of Tourism related units.
Mr.Shiv Kumar Sharma & Virender Kesar while speaking on the occasion emphasized for special package to the Tourism Industry because it is the only Industry which is hitted the most and even as on today when other Industries are reviving gradually the chances of revival of Tourism is looking bleak and further more in absence of trains,Interstate buses and condition of Pre Covid test done within 48 hours at their places, the Vaishnodevi Yatra is almost negligible and chances of revival too are bleak.
Mr.Diwedi listened the delegation patiently and assured that sympathetic consideration to each and every point will be given.