Maharashtra has slipped to 13th rank (92.71 score) from 10th (92.86 score) on the Ease of Doing Business scale.
Notwithstanding the state government's strong pitch for business-friendly environment and "red carpet" instead of "red tape", Maharashtra has slipped to 13th rank (92.71 score) from 10th (92.86 score) on the Ease of Doing Business scale.
The government, which has set an ambitious target of achieving a trillion dollar economy by 2025, has failed to retain its 10th rank due to lack of sufficient progress to ensure online processes in the functioning of courts, registration of cases at Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and formulation of uniform Development Control Regulation for the entire state.
In the last budget, the Centre had identified 327 action points spread over 12 sectors.
State industries department officer said parameters for judging states were different. "High Court reform comprising paperless court proceedings was one of the parameters where Maharashtra has yet to make substantial progress," he said.
"Another parameter was making online registration of pollution control cases with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. It was to be completed by October 31, 2017 and MPCB had achieved the target, but the communication was sent much later to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)," he added.
Further, the government has to formulate a common Development Control Regulation (DCR) for the entire state. "It is certainly a tall order as cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur cannot be compared with Khamgaon in Buldhana district or Khed in Ratnagiri district. However, efforts are under way," the officer said.
With regard to online procedure in the Labour department, the officer said, "Renewal of licence under Factories Act was achieved but the government could not communicate it before October 31 and therefore was ranked low," the officer said.
As far as making cadastral surveys (measurement of land) digital is concerned, it is still done manually. "The state slipped on this parameter too," the officer said.
However, state industries secretary Satish Gavai said Maharashtra will have a better showing next year due to ongoing initiatives. "Maharashtra is the most favoured investment destination and ranks first in Competitiveness," he said, adding, "The government has successfully implemented single window system through Maharashtra Industry, Trade & Investment Facilitation Cell (MAITRI). It is one-stop-shop for existing and prospective investors to get consolidated information about the investment process. The proof of pudding is in the eating."
Infrastructure & Logistics Federation of India president Sushil Jiwarajka admitted that Maharashtra continues to do well on the industrial front but other states are implementing e-governance initiatives and digitalizing the economy. "Maharashtra should gain leadership by aggressively implementing e-governance measures which were announced but are yet to be fully implemented," he noted.
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