Srinagar, Oct 13: The Kashmir Small Scale Industrial Association (KSSIA), Baghi Ali Mardan Khan, has contested the apprehensions expressed by the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) over the Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, describing the concerns as premature and warning against creating unwarranted suspicion about reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles for entrepreneurs.
At a meeting of its Executive Council held at the Association’s office under the chairmanship of president Syed Fazal Illahi, KSSIA unanimously welcomed the legislation enacted by the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, terming it a long-overdue step towards facilitating industrial activity, encouraging investment and generating employment.
Recalling the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs in securing approvals, consents and No Objection Certificates from multiple government departments, the Council said industrialists had often been forced to make repeated visits to offices despite investing their lifetime savings and years of hard work in establishing enterprises and creating livelihoods.
The Association said entrepreneurs should be treated as partners in economic development rather than being subjected to cumbersome administrative procedures that delay projects, increase costs and discourage investment.
The Council observed that Ease of Doing Business was part of a broader reform agenda being pursued across the country and argued that Jammu and Kashmir, having endured prolonged economic disruption and industrial stagnation, could not afford to remain tied to outdated administrative practices.
Expressing disappointment over the GCC’s observations, KSSIA members questioned the timing of the criticism, arguing that sweeping apprehensions had been raised before the government notified the rules and guidelines governing the implementation of the legislation.
The Council maintained that the Act contained safeguards relating to environmental protection, public safety and other legitimate concerns, adding that the implementation framework would be crucial in ensuring that the reform achieved its intended objectives without compromising public interests.
The Association stressed that removing unnecessary permissions and procedural bottlenecks should not be confused with eliminating environmental, planning or safety regulations. It said reducing bureaucratic harassment did not exempt businesses from complying with the law.
KSSIA urged the GCC to examine the provisions of the legislation individually and distinguish between measures intended to simplify administrative procedures and those that could potentially affect regulatory oversight.
The Association also emphasised that industrial development and environmental protection were not mutually exclusive objectives. Entrepreneurs, it said, were equally invested in protecting Kashmir’s forests, water bodies, landscapes and cultural heritage, given that they were part of the same region whose ecological sustainability was under discussion.
The Council, however, questioned what it described as the lack of comparable scrutiny of environmental degradation over the past three decades, particularly the unplanned development of tourist destinations such as Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
It also flagged the increasing commercialisation of residential neighbourhoods, including Karan Nagar, Balgarden, Jawahar Nagar and Rajbagh, arguing that concerns over environmental protection and urban planning should extend to past administrative decisions as well as proposed legislative changes.
Members questioned why these developments had not attracted similar scrutiny when several experienced administrators now associated with the GCC held responsible positions in the government.
At the same time, acknowledging the experience and expertise of GCC members, KSSIA invited the group to identify specific provisions that, in its assessment, required modification or stronger safeguards.
The Association said constructive engagement among the government, civil society and industrial representatives would help address legitimate concerns without undermining the central objective of simplifying the regulatory framework for businesses.
The Executive Council expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his government for addressing longstanding demands of the industrial sector and called for the early notification of clear and practical implementation rules.
It said the rules should preserve the spirit of the legislation while ensuring adequate protection of the environment, public safety and other public interests.
“Jammu and Kashmir can afford neither reckless development nor endless bureaucratic obstruction. Our entrepreneurs deserve dignity, our educated youth deserve opportunities at home, and our environment deserves protection. Good governance must deliver all three,” the Association said.
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