This story is from December 12, 2014

RRZ norms may be relaxed to boost ind activity

Restrictions Hampering Growth, Says CM Fadnavis
RRZ norms may be relaxed to boost ind activity
NAGPUR: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government is considering to relax the river regulatory zones (RRZ) norms in order to facilitate industrial development. The RRZ norms restrict industrial or similar activity within 500 meters of a river bank.
Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Ceat Tyres’ plant at Butibori industrial estate, Fadnavis said that the government wants to do away the procedural hassles faced for starting a business Maharashtra.
“Certain restrictions such as the RRZ norms indeed hamper industrial development,” he said.
Citing the case of units at MIDC’s Hingna estate, Fadnavis said, “There are some units along the Nag River in Hingna. The industries came up first and the RRZ norms were framed later. However, the restrictions under the RRZ norms is preventing the expansion of the units,” he said.
Fadnavis said the government feels that there is a need to bring some flexibility in the overall rules to cover other rivers too. “This will hopefully boost industrial growth,” he added.
Creating a business friendly environment in the state is his top priority, said Fadnavis. As against over 15 no objection certificates (NOCs) so far required from the Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) for setting up a unit, the number has been brought down to five.
“Even in non-MIDC areas, where the NOCs required from different government departments are 76, we are planning to reduce it to 20-25,” said Fadnavis.
In an oblique remark to the previous regime, he said “Maharashtra which was once the most industrialized state is now only living in past glory. Through a single window system has been put in place, there are actually several windows within windows.”

A whole gamut of government departments have to be dealt with for starting an industry. “However there was no accountability among the departments involved in the procedure,” he said.
Saying that the government had already ensured electricity at lower rates in the Mihan SEZ area, apart from continuing the power subsidy for a month, he stressed on a need for a holistic approach to the issue. “Electricity rates can be kept reasonable by rationalizing coal usage and also reducing the transmission and distribution losses,” he said.
He lauded the MIDC officials for completing the procedure including allotment of land to Ceat Tyres within a month. “The ease of doing business should not be limited to the bigger cities but trickle down to the interior too,” said Fadnavis.
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