Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani relaxes norms to speed production

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, on Wednesday, announced 12 measures to do away with environmental and procedural bottlenecks to expedite investment and increase production of small manufacturers. This will result in an increase in industrial investment worth Rs 82,000 crore.

Local business bodies had, in past one month, complained about the flaws in procedures and regulations are intensifying industrial slowdown. All of these measures relate to the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).

Rupani announced these SOPs in the presence of close to 2,700 industrialists in Ahmedabad. "There is a perception among industries that these organisations harass them. I want to categorically assure all of you that these bodies exist for you. The government believes in sitting together and finding a solution. Gujarat is a policy-driven state," said Rupani.

He said that these problems have been troubling industries for years together now and the government has decided to do away with them. He advocated cluster approach to develop industries and urged industries to develop products that are district specific.

Rajiv Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) for Forest and Environment, said many of the problems have been pending for about 10-15 years. GPCB will now play the role of a doctor rather than a policeman and of a developer rather than a regulator, he said.

Shailesh Patwari, Chairman, Naroda Enviro Projects Limited, said these SOPs will ease regulations and procedures as well as expedite production. Ajit Shah, secretary of Federation of Industries Association (FIA), said that these demands have been pending for long and have hurt investments, job creation, and government revenue.