Kashmir Pen News Desk
Srinagar, Jan 18: The Jammu & Kashmir Tourism and Allied Business Forum (JKTABF) has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to grant an amnesty on electricity bills for commercial tourism units across the Union Territory, citing severe and prolonged financial distress in the sector.
In a statement, the Forum noted that tourism — a key pillar of J&K’s economy and a major source of livelihood — has endured sustained disruptions over recent years. The period following the abrogation of Article 370, subsequent security incidents including the Pahalgam episode, and erratic tourist arrivals have cumulatively affected investor confidence, pushing hotels, houseboats, guesthouses, homestays, and restaurants to operate under extremely low occupancy or closure.
Despite negligible revenues, fixed operational expenditures such as electricity charges continued to mount. The Forum said accumulated interest and penalties have inflated outstanding dues, leaving several small and medium tourism establishments on the brink of closure.
Chairman JKTABF, Mushtaq Chaya, clarified that the request does not seek a waiver of principal dues.
“Our request is limited to waiving accumulated interest and penalties, and allowing payment of the principal amount in easy instalments. This will help stakeholders regularise their accounts and sustain operations,” he said.
Chaya underscored tourism’s wider economic footprint, noting that the sector underpins a vast ecosystem encompassing transport, handicrafts, agriculture and local trade, supporting thousands of families.
“A timely and compassionate decision will help protect jobs and accelerate economic recovery,” he added.
The Forum has also urged the Managing Director of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mehmood Ahmad Shah, to launch a time-bound amnesty scheme tailored for tourism and allied commercial units to facilitate structured clearance of pending dues.
Expressing optimism for a positive response, the JKTABF said a sympathetic and pragmatic approach by the government at this juncture would restore confidence among tourism entrepreneurs, safeguard employment, and support the revival of Jammu & Kashmir’s tourism industry | Kashmir Pen
