CM steps in to end regional disparity, push small units’ growth

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 11

A target of attracting investment worth Rs1 lakh crore, generating 4 lakh jobs and accelerating economic growth to more than 8 per cent in four years , Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced several incentives and concessions to encourage industrial growth in “backward blocks” of the state.

He rechristened the new industrial policy as “Enterprises Promotion Policy 2015” and emphasised on removing regional disparity, encouraging medium, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and enhancing competitiveness of the industry.

Khattar said the policy, approved by the Cabinet which met today, would ensure hassle-free business through “NIRBAADH” — New Industrial Regime By Automatic Approval And Decentralisation in Haryana.

There would be a two-tier system for project clearances. A Haryana Enterprise Promotion Board (HEPB) will be created. It will have a governing council headed by the Chief Minister for overseeing time-bound clearances, sanctioning special packages for mega projects and clearing further policy initiatives, under the new policy.

“Projects with investment of more than Rs 10 crore and involving CLU cases of more than 1 acre will be cleared by the Empowered Executive Committee under the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister (PSCM). Projects with investment up to Rs10 crore and CLU cases up to 1 acre in conforming zones will be cleared by District-Level Clearance Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner,” Industries Minsiter Capt Abhimanyu said, adding a system of online clearances will be put in place by creating an e-Biz Haryana portal starting from October 1.

The state will be divided into four categories of development blocks — A, B, C and D — for incentive support. There will be mapping of the districts to identify the potential of each one and encourage local entrepreneurs to establish cooperative societies to set up manufacturing units.

“The new board to be set up under the Chief Minister will classify the blocks into the four categories of developed, intermediate, backward and most backward blocks with best incentives for the ‘D’ category,” the minister said, adding the new policy would herald a paradigm shift in Haryana.

A FINE (Financial Incentives and No Enhancements) scheme would make industries competitive, wherein steps would be taken to reduce cost of doing business. No enhancement in the price of land will be charged to allottees of the HSIIDC within case of allotments to be made in future.

The fiscal incentives would include VAT refund, stamp duty refund, interest subvention, power tariff rebate amounting to Rs1,000 crore and Rs1,000 crore fund for collateral-free loans for the MSMEs.

“There will be employment generation subsidy of Rs36,000 per annum for Scheduled Castes and women, and Rs30,000 per year for the general category for five years for capacity building of persons belonging to Haryana for units employing 50 per cent of the workforce from the state,” said Devender Singh, Principal Secretary, Industries.

A power tariff subsidy at the rate of Rs2 per unit only for micro and small enterprise in ‘C’ and ‘D’ category blocks for three years would be given.

Under a special scheme, PRANETA (Professionals And New Entrepreneurs Tax Assistance) for start-up enterprises by first generation professionally and technically qualified youths with five years of work experience, no state taxes will be levied up to a turnover of Rs3 crore or three years whichever is earlier.

Panchayat land, wherever available, will be made available on long-term lease for such entrepreneurs and industrial units located in rural functional clusters.

Govt plans investors’ meet in January

Chandigarh: The government will host an investors’ meet on the lines of Vibrant Gujarat in January next year  to showcase Haryana as a “preferred investment destination. Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar said that the government was in talks with investors, stakeholders and entrepreneurs to organise “Happening Haryana” and hardsell the state and offer financial incentives to foreign investors to hire youths from Haryana. “The government will talk to foreign investors to hire a certain percentage of local youths, who will be imparted training and skill development under the Haryana Skill Development Mission and ‘Skill India’ schemes,” he said.

Industrial policy anti-youth: Capt Yadav

Rewari: Former minister Capt Ajay Yadav said the new industrial policy had failed to give any relief to unemployed educated youths as no provision had been made to provide them with land on no profit, no loss basis for establishing units. The BJP government harps on 'Make in India', but it is not ready to assist educated youths to realise their dreams. It has overlooked the interests of educated youths in the new policy," he added.

Karnal industrialists hail new policy

Karnal: Local industrialist have hailed the new industrial policy. The industrialists are expecting a boost to the concept of 'Make in India' and said it would reduce the pending litigations in all departments. Industrialists said der aaye darust aaye and expected that the respective departments would work to implement the policy effectively. Amit Gupta, vice-president of Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the industry-friendly vision had been reflected in the new policy.