Incentives for Tourism

Cabinet meeting today Govt likely to modify rules governing package of incentives for tourism

In a bid to boost tourism in the State, the Government has decided to modify the existing rules governing the package of incentives for this vital sector and a proposal in this regard is being placed before the State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, tomorrow morning.Authoritative sources told Jk News that keeping in view various discussions held on the issue during the past quite sometime, the Tourism Department is placing a detailed proposal before the Cabinet for modification in the existing rules governing the package of incentives for tourism as industry.Disclosing that modifications are in supersession to Government orders and the regulations notified in 1995, they said that Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather while presenting budget for the current financial year in the Legislative Assembly on March 5, had stated that Government has revisited the existing package of incentives for tourism units, which includes hotels, motels, houseboats, paying guest houses and cafeterias etc, to announce the new package of incentives.

"The list of areas and locations, where the tourism units will be eligible to get incentives as per new package, is being considerably liberalized and expanded", sources said, adding "a new limit is being proposed for the capital outright investment subsidy. The limit on amount of capital subsidy has also been proposed to be increased in case of prestigious units".

"The proposal of the Tourism Department is also understood to have touched capital subsidy on substantial expansion by the existing units, reimbursement of cost of preparation of Detailed Project Reports, remission of stamp duty on mortgages and subsidy for replacement/ purchase of new tourist coaches etc", sources informed.

Sources said that Cabinet will also consider the proposal of the Revenue Department regarding the enhancement of honorarium of Numberdars and Chowkidars.

"The Revenue Department has proposed enhancement of honorarium of Numberdars from existing rate of Rs 501 per month to Rs 1501 per month and that of Chowkidars from Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per month", sources said while informing that this issue was informally discussed during the last Cabinet meeting and the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had directed the Revenue Minister, Raman Bhalla to place a formal proposal in this regard before the Cabinet for consideration.

Sources disclosed that Cabinet will also consider and take decision on the proposal of Information Technology Department regarding implementation of National Population Register (NPR) Project in place of Aadhaar Project in the State.

"Union Government after examining various issues pertaining to National Population Register and Aadhaar Project of Unique Identification Authority of India in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, UID Authority of India and Department of Information Technology, has harmonized the procedures for the two projects", sources said, adding "Jammu and Kashmir Government like most North Eastern States has been advised to ensure complete coverage under the National Population Register only".

"In view of this, the MoU between State Government and the J&K Bank, which was signed on July 18, 2011, is being withdrawn", sources said, adding "following this, the Aadhaar project of UID Authority of India will be replaced with National Population Register as per the Government of India decision to implement National Population Register by Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs in the State".

According to the sources, Cabinet will also consider the proposals regarding the transfer of land for different projects including setting up of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Ramnagar constituency.