Srinagar, Dec 01 (KNS): A meeting of prominent Tourism related Associations and people connected with Tourism was held here today at Radisson Blu Jammu under the joint banner of J&K Tourism coordination Committee wherein Chairman PHDCCI Kashmir Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya who is also Chairman of JK Hoteliers Club and also represents Kashmir Tourism Co-ordination Committee and the President Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra & Co-Chairman PHDCCI Jammu Region Rakesh Wazir, President Jammu Hotel, Restaurant & Bar Association Kuldeep Wahi, Secretary Hotel & Restaurant Association Northern India R.D.Anand, Raju Choudhary & Sidhant Choudhary Ramada Jammu, Chander Gupta Fortune Raviera Jammu, Chander Shekher KC Residency, Vikram Gupta Radisson Blu Jammu and others were present showed surprise and resentment over the latest move of the power department wherein on contrary to the decision of the Assembly which in the last budget decided that Hotel & Resorts be charged power tariff at par with Industrial rates and Government’s Finance department issued order No.267-FD of 2018 dated 30.05.2018 even to that effect and the department of Power too started that exercise accordingly but it is really surprising that few days back the department suddenly stopped enrolling the remaining hotels and asked that even the existing hotels already given the effect thereof will get stopped, on the plea that their department’s departmental approval has not come.
The Co-ordination Committee showed surprise that whether the power department is over and above of all the legislations/budget commitments and questioned for its as being even more loyal than the king and said that in past where the power tariffs were increased in the budget the department took the same yard stick and if the departments will not obey the assembly decisions and other orders of the government how the system will work and it will lead to anarchy type situation and categorically said that if power department will not obey the assembly directives then they too are not bound to obey their directives whichever are contrary to budget and government orders and asked the hoteliers to pay only the electricity dues at par with Industrial rates and excess amount be not deposited and asked the Governor & state government to intervene into the matter otherwise it will lead to major law & order problem, whose full responsibility will lie down on that department only.
The Co-ordination Committee further said that Tourism has been declared as industry and there was no tax prior to GST on hotels, Guest Houses etc, but after coming of GST though the refund of GST had been started to Industries but the refund on the same pattern to hotels is still awaited and asked for its immediate reimbursement to hotels /other Tourism related units.
The Committee was of unanimous in decision that promotion of J&K Tourism is immediately required in aggressive way in whole India so that the tourism which is derailed and has been marginalized in state may start again and asked the governor to convene a meeting with co-ordination Committee at the earliest along with his advisors, Chief Secretary and concerned Secretaries so that all the matters are discussed in detail including the proper strategy to how Tourism which is back bone of the state is to be revived again now. (KNS)