SRINAGAR: MLA Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar, on Tuesday strongly criticised the unequal distribution of industrial investment under the 28,400 crore New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS), asserting that only two out of twenty districts in Jammu and Kashmir have received the majority of proposals since the scheme’s launch in 2021.
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected office bearers of the Chamber of Industrial Entrepreneurs Association (CIEA) Zakura, Sagar termed the implementation of NCSS a “glaring failure of equitable planning and execution” and promised to raise the issue in the Legislative Assembly to demand fair and inclusive development across all districts.
Highlighting the infrastructure challenges faced by the Zakura industrial estate, Sagar expressed concern over dilapidated internal roads and promised to take up the matter with the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Industries and Commerce portfolio. He further offered to contribute from his Constituency Development Fund if financial constraints were delaying repairs.
Emphasising the role of local industries in employment generation and economic growth, Sagar also criticised the exclusion of local units from government procurement, noting that most departments have sourced goods from outside Jammu and Kashmir over the past five years. He called for a revised procurement policy to prioritise local manufacturers.
The event saw several business leaders address the gathering, including Shahid Kamili, President FCIK; Javid Ahmad Tenga, President KCCI; former FCIK Presidents Syed Shakeel Qalander and Mohammad Ashraf Mir; and Khair-un-Nissa Shah, Executive Director, World Trade Centre Asia Pacific. They highlighted key challenges facing local MSMEs and stressed the importance of joint efforts by the government, chambers, and industry associations to boost industrial growth.
The newly elected CIEA team, led by President Shabir Ahmad Shah, was formally administered the oath of office. Other office bearers include Zahoor Ahmad Shawl (Vice President), Sehar Mushtaq Shah (General Secretary), Muzamil Hayat Shah (Joint Secretary), Manzoor Ahmad Shahdad (Secretary Finance), Mohammad Usman Shah (Publicity Secretary), and MD Reshi (Speaker).
The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Industries and Commerce Department, SIDCO, SICOP, Police, and representatives from various industrial estates, including GM DIC Srinagar Hameedah Akhtar, GM SICOP Waseem Ahmad, and Assistant Director MSME Suhail Allaqaband. KSSIA President Syed Fazal Illahi presented a bouquet to the new CIEA President on behalf of the association.
In his concluding remarks, Shabir Ahmad Shah thanked the members for their trust, reaffirmed his team’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by estate entrepreneurs, and appreciated the outgoing team led by Rafique Ahmad Dar for their dedication.
