CII for giving more powers to DIC GMs

CII wants Single Window policy to be made an effective instrument. The proposals for establishment of new industries are discussed by the district Industries promotion committees which are headed by district collectors.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Vijayawada Zone has suggested that the government make Single Window policy an effective instrument in industrial development mainly by conferring more powers on the General Managers (GMs) of District Industries Centres (DIC).

Basically, the activities of Industries, Revenue, Pollution Control Board and other departments are sought to be synchronized in order to expedite the process of giving the maze of clearances that a new enterprise requires. A revised industrial policy document was sent to the CII State office by government for obtaining feedback recently and various amendments were proposed to it by the industry body.

One important aspect that the government has already contemplated is to allow GMs to grant approvals for projects with investments up to Rs. 5 crore (Rs. 1 crore at present) at their discretion without having to route the proposals through their headquarters.

CII Vijayawada Zone Chairman V.V.M. Krishna told The Hindu that it would be a welcome step to vest more powers with the GMs as the existing procedures were time consuming. decisions could be taken at the district-level itself after due consultations are held with all stakeholders.

The proposals for establishment of new industries are discussed by the district Industries promotion committees which are headed by district Collectors.

The government is expected to quickly act on it to relieve prospective entrepreneurs of the strenuous efforts they have to normally make to get their units sanctioned. Besides, the government was taking a fresh look of the labour laws to ensure that the welfare of workers is not compromised in the emerging scheme of things, Mr. Krishna added.

Final clearance

Sujay Biotech Private Limited Managing Director and CII Vijayawada Zone Past Chairman M. Lakshmi Prasad said it would take at least two months for a proposal to be given final clearance from the date of filing of Industrial Entrepreneurship Memorandum (IEM) with the DIC even if the documents are processed at the best possible speed.

This was sought to be curtailed as the entrepreneurs could not wait for so long for construction of their units to begin.