Special cells to deal with harassment to industries

MUMBAI: In another initiative to encourage industrialisation, the state government will appoint committees under IPS officers at the district and the state level to ensure there is no harassment to industry. At the state level an IPS officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police will be appointed to MAITRI (a cell set up to address various industry-related issues) as a nodal officer.
Setting up an industry is not a smooth affair. A Government Resolution issued by the industry, energy and labour department admits that while industrial estates are being set up by the government, industrial development faces a lot of problems.
The GR has listed a host of problems that industries face in the state explaining the decision to set up two monitoring committees _ one at the district level and the other at the state level headed by a police officer.
"Even after purchasing land following the due process of law, paying proper compensation, drawing the land boundary and even taking physical possession of the land is an issue owing to internal feuds from whom the land has been purchased. If the police is called for, often there is a law and order problem,’’ states the GR.
The GR issued on July 2 further states that once the possession of the land is taken and construction begins there are demands for work contracts and hindrances created in ongoing works.
"If after numerous efforts an industry begins production then Mathadi Labour unions create problems in the entry of raw material and exit of the finished product. Hurdles are created while laying pipelines or the Right of Way. And finally there are instances of extortions,’’ states the GR.
Considering these issues and to ensure faster development of industrial estates without any law and order problem, the state government has decided to set up a committee under the police superintendent in rural areas and under the police commissioner at the division level. The other members include the sub-divisional officer, the district labour officer and director industry centre besides the regional officer, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. The committee will meet at least once every six months to resolve disputes.
Dr Arup Basu, chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Maharashtra, such steps would provide a strong impetus to increase the state’s manufacturing base and accelerate “Make-in-Maharashtra” through greater ease of doing business.