Industrial investment promotion got a thumbs up from the Assembly which unanimously passed two Bills related to the subject on Tuesday, even as Industries Minister A.C. Moideen announced the government’s plan to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the Central government’s disinvestment moves in HLL Lifecare Ltd.
Considering the fact that the treasury and Opposition benches were in a confrontation mode during the major part of the ongoing session, the unanimity in passing the Kerala Investment Promotion and Facilitation Bill, 2018, and the Kerala Investment Promotion and Facilitation (No. 2) Bill, 2018 was indeed rare.
The two Bills, debated and passed together to regularise ordinances promulgated earlier, seek to simplify procedures for licences and engaging the services of headload workers that would end the practice of ghost money.
Mr. Moideen said the two legislations would help the State take forward some of its industrial promotion measures during the last two years.
SC directives
In tune with the Supreme Court directions, it had taken steps to induct professionals on the Kerala State Pollution Control Board.
HLL divestment
The government had proposed an all-party meeting on HLL disinvestment as it was opposed to privatising public sector undertakings.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala welcomed the government’s rethink on the Kerala Loading and Unloading (Regulation of Wages and Restriction of Unlawful Practices) Act, passed in 2002.
This Act was withdrawn by the previous LDF government in 2008. He said the Opposition agreed to support the government’s efforts since Kerala was in need of investments to promote its development.
