Valley traders seek more sops

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 23

Even as the government had recently announced a package of Rs 1,350 crore for the revival of businesses in J&K, the Valley traders are demanding more concessions.

“We demand that the benefits of the package should be extended to all small-time shopkeepers and traders and there should be specific announcements for them. There should be extension of the amnesty scheme for pending sales tax arrears up to ending March, 2021. Besides, recommendations should be made to the GST council for the extension of date of filing of returns up to ending March, 2021, for all pending filing of returns with waiver of late fee. Moreover, those dealers/ industrial unit holders, who could not place claim for tax reimbursement in time, should be allowed to file claims for all pending quarters up to ending March, 2020,” said Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) president Aijaz Shahdhar.

He said the business community had not just suffered losses during the Covid lockdown but right from August 5 last year when the abrogation of Article 370 threw normal life out of gear.

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries-Kashmir (ACCIK) said the economic package was like ‘alms’ to the business community.

“Many trade organisations had come up with business losses to each sector of the economy and had enumerated the quantum of losses in absolute figures. But, in return, we have been offered alms in the name of a package for the business revival and growth,” a ACCIK statement said.