Hyderabad :
Unveiling what is being billed as the ‘game-changing’ industrial policy, Telangana became the first state in the country to bestow on investors the right to get clearance of their projects within a set time frame.
The new industrial policy unveiled by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at a gala event here on Friday makes the state liable for penal action if it fails to respond to investment proposals within the time frame.
Under Telangana Industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System (TS-iPASS), all the mega projects (over Rs 200 crore) will get clearance in 15 days, while the other projects will be approved in a month. The chief minister, addressing a gathering of nearly 2,000 industry representatives, including several CEOs and company heads, promised corruption-free and hassle-free business environment.
“If you apply online to set up your industry, we will give all approvals and make allotments within 15 days. The chasing cell will see to it that the clearances are given within the set time frame. If the deadline is missed, then the officer concerned would be asked to pay a fine of Rs.1,500 for each day’s delay,” KCR said at the mega event held at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) in Madhapur.
The chief minister’s announcements got a big thumbs up from industry captains. Describing the policy as “fantastic”, Pawan K Ruia, chairman of Ruia Group, said “such a policy is unprecedented. We have only seen deadlines fixed for investors to start their projects. We had never seen a deadline fixed for the other side. The penalty clause alone makes the policy game-changer.”
Apart from TS-iPASS, the policy framework announced on the occasion includes T- IDEA (Telangana Industrial Development and Entrepreneur Advancement) to help micro, small, and medium enterprises, and T-PRIDE (Telangana Program for Rapid Incubation of Dalit Entrepreneurs).
Chandrasekhar Rao also launched the TSICC (Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation) website where industrialists can apply online for single window clearance. The industrial policy framework, which was approved by the Telangana assembly in November 2014, also promises minimum inspections and maximum facilitation.
The government has identified 14 core areas for a focused approach for industrial development. The sectors include life sciences, pharmaceuticals, information technology, aerospace, automobiles, textiles, minerals and transportation and logistics.
The policy prescribes norms for giving permissions to mega (with investments of Rs. 200 crore and above), large (Rs 10 crore-Rs 200 crore) and small and medium sized projects and each industrial park will provide a ‘plug and play’ environment. In addition, the government was also planning to develop industrial townships near such parks for easier commute to work.
Stating that the government was pulling out all stops to make it easy for investors to come to Telangana, Chandrasekhar Rao said anyone seeking to invest in the state would be attended to at every stage by a special team of protocol officers.
“On receiving your application, we will invite you to Telangana. A protocol officer will escort you straight from the Shamshabad Airport to my chambers. You will meet me and the industry secretary for a small discussion. You will be invited again within 12-15 days and the protocol officer will receive you. I will hand you over a cover containing all allotments and clearances,” Chandrasekhar Rao said.
The chief minister also unveiled the Telangana solar power policy which promises single window clearances to solar power projects.
Chief secretary Rajiv Sharma, who made opening remarks, said with a land bank of about 1.40 lakh acres in the state, the government will provide a hassle-free environment for the investors allowing them to focus on their core activities.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / June 13th, 2015