Maharashtra government woos industries to set up plants in Mumbai

It seems the Maharashtra government is all out to woo entrepreneurs to set up industries in Mumbai. It is likely to remove conditions like permission from the revenue department if a plant is to be set up on an agricultural land. This move would give industries more floor space index (FSI) for setting up a plant.

The government is also likely to allow all types of industries in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). It is, however, feared that if the government doesn't keep tab on pollution control, the new industries would cause more harm than good, particularly in MMR, which is densely populated.

Since MMR has high land rates, many industries shy away from setting up plants. But the latest decision to do away with permission from the revenue department for setting up plants on agricultural land, might encourage people to set up plants, mainly in Thane and Raigad areas, adjoining Mumbai.

The industry department has also proposed that if a particular company has already taken the coastal regulatory zone permission and consent from the union environment ministry then it will not be needed to take another permission from state pollution control board.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis has already launched the Make in Maharshtra program to boost industries in the state. The cabinet has set up a high-power subcommittee to reduce red tape for industrial permits. The committee headed by chief minister will meet once a month and will work on reducing the timeframe to give various permits to industries.

It will monitor the status of licensing applications and will keep check on various departments whose permissions are required to set up the industry. The government has also formed a secretarial committee which will look into the cases where government has declined permission to set up industry and will send recommendations to the cabinet subcommittee.

Currently, 76 different permissions are needed for setting up industries in Maharshtra. The chief minister has already said that he intends to bring it down to 25. Keeping in tandem with the growth pace set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Fadanvis is trying to match steps with the centre. But going by Fadanvis's earlier statements about the state being in a serious financial crunch, let's hope that these statements don't turn out to be mere populist announcements.