Jammu, Feb 20: Union Minister for Food Processing Pashupati Kumar Paras on Monday visited the Chamber House and interacted with the office bearers, senior members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries and representatives of various trade bodies, a CCI statement issued here said.
According to the statement, President CCI Arun Gupta while speaking on the occasion apprised the Union Minister that “nature has showered his blessings on the UT of Jammu & Kashmir through agricultural produce, organic produce, mineral & mining produce, but unfortunately people of Jammu are not getting due share of all these produces”.
He said the items which are produced in Kashmir Valley are apples, plump, walnuts almonds and kesar, etc. while in Jammu, rice, rajmah, grapes, guava, etc. are produced in rich quantity
“Previously, a food park was announced in Jammu & Kashmir and one food park was developed in Kashmir Valley but unfortunately Jammu was deprived of getting the benefit of developing the food park. We request that food park, as well as food laboratories, should be developed in all the districts of J&K,” the president said. “Although one food laboratory has been given clearance by your department and we have full faith in your cooperation in allowing the food laboratory to function in Jammu,” he added.
“Though the Union Government has imposed 100% import duty on walnuts to help the small growers but still small growers are not getting the sufficient price of their produce. We request your good self to consider our plea and consider the quantity-based tax on walnuts as is being done in the case of almonds for the better flourishing of the walnut industry in the country,” the statement reads. He also requested abolishing the items in the category of the negative list.
The Union Minister, according to the statement, said he will “definitely” look into the demand of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding tax on walnuts and the abolition of the negative list. “Further he (the minister) said that the government has introduced a new policy regarding food parks and now we are going to develop mini food parks instead of the food parks developed previously and anybody can avail the benefit of the schemes and my door are always open for everyone who wants to visit our department and avail the benefits of any scheme as per our policy.”
Those who were present in the meeting include Anil Gupta, Sr. Vice President CCI, Rajeev Gupta, Jr. Vice President CCI, Rajesh Gupta, Secretary CCI, Rajesh Gupta, Treasurer CCI, Shiv Partap Gupta, Rajendra Motial, Ravinder Sawhney, Sham Lal Langer, Krishan Lal Gupta, Vishwamitter Gupta, Jatinder Pinky Jain, Rajinder Parshad, Pooja Kapoor, Bimal Manchanda and Presidents/Representatives of different Bazar Association.
