KCCI welcomes
Srinagar: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has welcomed the Special development assistance of Rs 8,000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir announced in the Budget for 2011-12.
 "We welcome the generous allocation of Rs 8,000 crores by the Central government as Special Developmental Assistance to the State of Jammu and  Kashmir in the current fiscal as announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech for 2011-12," KCCI said in a statement here.
 The KCCI also appreciated the allocation of Rs 100 crore for developmental projects in Ladakh region and Rs 150 crore for similar projects in Jammu region.
 "The  KCCI  expects  optimal use of the generous central government allocations of Rs 8,000 crore for the state's development needs by its utilisation for such developmental activities which will give immediate ground results and generate employment," the statement said.
 The KCCI expressed hope it will be given representation in the Special Task Forces by the Centre, which shall have to recommend the developmental projects under various sectors connected with development of the state.
 "In absence of such representation, there are apprehensions that core sectors of development may not receive due attention and appropriate allocations," it added. PTI

FCIK disappointed
 The Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has expressed disappointment on the budget proposals and said that it did not address the problems of Jammu and Kashmir.
 In a statement, FCIK said: “Although it has kept an allocation of Rs 100 crores for ladakh and 150 crores for Jammu region, the Kashmir region has been entirely ignored. As the damage to the infrastructure due to disturbed conditions was mainly in the Kashmir region, we expected announcement of substantial allocation for new infrastructural projects in the region.”
 The FCIK said industrial sector in the Kashmir was in bad shape and there was rampant sickness in the sector.
 “Last year, the Finance minister had earmarked Rs 100 crores for the sick industry revival in J&K but till date no funds have been released. This year we expected major impetus for the sector in J&K but nothing has been mentioned in the speech. We also expected an announcement on the long pending demand of transfer of some of the Power projects of NHPC to the State which could help the state to overcome the Power crises to some extent.”

Budget disappoints Kashmiris: PDF
Responding to the Union Budget 2011, the political advisor of Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), Shiban Dudha, also a practicing Chartered
Accountant said that the Union Budget has totally neglected the peculiar issues and nuances of Jammu and Kashmir and its subjects which require peculiar remedies through the Budget.
In a statement, Dudha said since private investment has not picked up in Kashmir.
“No public / state owned investment in the infrastructure sector has been announced for Jammu and Kashmir in the Union Budget. This also goes contrary to PM’s recent announcement
of 1,00,000 jobs for youth of Jammu and Kashmir. While there has been a huge outlay in the Agri and Agro sectors there is no specific outlay for farmers and orchard owners of Jammu and Kashmir who have lost heavily last year due to civil unrest in valley and natural calamity.”
Similarly, Dudha said in the handloom area, there are vast concessions but for few hundred artisans and weavers of State, there is no special announcement. The government has yet to sort out the issue of their parity in Salaries.
“While there are huge outlays for housing sector, yet with respect to state of Jammu and Kashmir, there is no specific allocation for housing for Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir whom Government of India wants to return to their homes in valley in foreseeable future.”
Dudha urged that keeping in view the suitable climatic conditions of Kashmir for IT Industry, the government should set up one of the proposed CPC centres of Tax Department in Kashmir.
He said PDF felt that the real benefits of NABARD financing are not visible in Kashmir. “Also, Anganwari concept needs to be made more vibrant and transparent in Kashmir in order that the ultimate benefit reaches the common person,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST