Ease of doing Biz: Now, 3rd-party inspections for types of boilers in Maharashtra

Barely a week after the Magnetic Maharashtra summit, the state government, in a bid to further ensure ease of doing business, has extended the third party inspection and certification to cover all class and types of boilers and economisers. The Directorate of Steam Boilers in March 2016 had introduced the third-party inspection for boilers and economisers which have heating surfaces less than 1000 square metres.

The move is also aimed at the rationalisation and simplification of various Labour Laws to ensure removal of bottlenecks and impediments without compromising the safety, security and loss of life and property of personnel engaged in the industries and establishments. The third-party inspection for all types and calls of boilers and economisers will be implemented in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceutical, dyes, paints and pigments, textile processing, paper, food processing, power generation, cement and sugar factories.

A state industries department officer told DNA, "The government issued a notification late Monday evening to amend the third party inspection for enforcement of the Boilers Act, 1923 to extend the facility of third party inspection, certification covering all class and types of boilers and economisers. This will minimise personal interface and visits of the boiler inspection officer of the Directorate of Stream Boilers without compromising the quality of services."

Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture's former president Ram Bhogle told DNA, "The inspection of all types and class of boilers and economisers by third party will reduce chances of a shoddy job. Besides, the responsibilities of the private industrial unit and the third party inspector to be criminal in nature, both are expected to be cautious during the entire process of inspection.''

Maharashtra Economic Development Council chairman (industries) Anil Gachke said the decision will help curb inspector raj. ''However, the appointment of qualified and certified boiler engineers to conduct third party inspections may face hurdles due to their paucity,'' he noted.