Investors make a pitch for industry-friendly initiatives

To submit a detailed report to Chief Minister. All assessment orders should be completed within six months of filing of returns. Multiple notices should not be issued for a single assessment order.

Investors in the State have stepped up lobbying for initiating several trend-setting measures to improve ease of doing business.

Among other things, they want a one-stop cell manned by a top bureaucrat for clearance of all land, water, electricity and tax rebates. They also sought exemption from NALA tax and offer of 100 ft. road and 24x7 uninterrupted connectivity to all industrial/logistic parks, SEZ and ports.

Thorough study

After a thorough study and eliciting the opinion of members from across the State, AP Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation has prepared a detailed report. It will be submitted to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu shortly.

A copy has already been submitted to the Centre to look into the problems which come under various Central Ministries.

“Timely clearance and respective pre and post investment facilitation services, minimising approvals/ licences, removing bottlenecks like red-tapism and interferences at various level will ensure continuity of business attracting huge investments,” federation vice-president and Sravan Shipping Services MD G. Sambasiva Rao told

The Hindu on Wednesday.

To make it industry-friendly, he wanted the plan approval tariff be made on par with APIIC/IALA charges. He also sought collection of property tax at a reduced rate by confining it to only operational areas.

All assessment orders should be completed within six months of filing of returns.

Multiple notices should not be issued for a single assessment order.

The federation wanted for any appeal, the payment of 50 per cent of disputed value should be restricted to 5 per cent. Reopening of completed assessments should have a time bar of two years.

Power tariff

The federation favoured power tariff to Industry to be made top three competitive tariffs in the country. It also wanted freedom to buy power from independent power producers without any restrictions. Facilities like water and power should be available onsite for each plot with 25 per cent of area earmarked with service delivery framework.

SDF facility

Industries should have an option to be given SDF facility on lease basis or land on outright sale basis at a fair market price. Incentives promised to the industry should be expedited in a time-bound manner failing which a bank interest rate should be paid on the dues.