Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday called for a calibrated response to the tariffs imposed by the United States on Indian exports, urging stakeholders to explore and develop alternative markets to mitigate the economic impact, reported the PTI.
CM Fadnavis said that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is facing such challenges with resilience and confidence.
“We must strategically convert this adversity into opportunity,” CM Fadnavis said during a high-level meeting convened to discuss policy measures in the context of evolving global import-export dynamics, as per the PTI.
As part of his vision, CM Fadnavis proposed that Maharashtra implement 100 key reforms aimed at enhancing the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the state. He directed the establishment of a dedicated ‘War Room’ to oversee the implementation of these reforms, ensure monthly reviews, and maintain accountability.
The Chief Minister further urged the promotion of private industrial parks, backed by a clear policy to enable their development even outside Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas. He stressed the importance of including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the reform process and called for a streamlined mechanism to fast-track permits for industrial setups, according to the PTI.
“The state is fully committed to supporting both new and existing industries. The single-window clearance system must be reinforced to eliminate bureaucratic delays. Moreover, agro-based industries operating on land parcels over five hectares should be exempt from requiring prior permissions,” he said, the news agency reported.
CM Fadnavis also highlighted the need for effective communication of legal reforms to field-level officers to ensure tangible change at the grassroots level.
He directed officials to reduce the processing time for industrial clearances, expedite land demarcation, and rationalise environmental penalties, ensuring that eco-friendly industries are not burdened with excessive charges.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) outlined several significant reforms already implemented to improve EoDB in the state incluudiing issuance of biannual fire safety licences, making Maharashtra the first state to do so, it includes-
– Enactment of the MAITRI Act 2023 to improve coordination in industrial approvals
– Introduction of a Single Window Power Connection System requiring just two documents
– Launch of the Building Plan Management System for faster approvals of industrial construction
– Operationalisation of the MILAP Portal for streamlined industrial land applications and allotments
It said that the upcoming reforms include the creation of a land bank, transparent and time-bound land allotments, environmental clearances within 60 days, formation of district-level investment promotion cells, and the introduction of a ‘One Block, One Cluster’ policy to promote cluster-based industrial growth, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
