Chief Secy stresses on relaxing norms to boost ease of doing business in J&K
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has emphasised the importance of reducing compliance burdens and enhancing the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in Jammu and Kashmir.
While reviewing the necessary steps in this regard, the Chief Secretary urged departments to streamline processes and services, making them more accessible. He stressed that this must be the primary task of all departments to make the region more attractive to investors and citizens alike.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Principal Secretary, Home; Principal Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD); Commissioner Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD); Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce (I&C); Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD); Director, I&C, Jammu, along with other concerned officers.
Dulloo directed officials to ensure the digitisation of records, the creation of a land bank, and the formulation of relevant bylaws for each authority responsible for different purposes in a mission-driven approach. He also called for the development of Master Plans focused on systematic urban development, aligned with future needs and sustainability.
Dulloo inquired about the identified priority areas and the government departments responsible for their implementation. He instructed them to undertake their tasks as a time-bound exercise with regular monitoring at the highest level.
Commissioner Secretary, I&C Department, Vikramjit Singh, informed that 23 key priority areas had been identified to drive economic growth, improve regulatory efficiency, and promote ease of doing business in accordance with established guidelines. He explained that these reforms focus on urban development, labour laws, environmental clearances, and industrial facilitation, providing an in-depth analysis of their expected impact.
Regarding a flexible zoning framework, it was stated that the Housing and Urban Development and Revenue Departments would implement a flexible zoning system to allow mixed land use, thereby enhancing urban planning.
To streamline land-use conversions, a comprehensive digital system will be developed for document submission and approval. Additionally, the Public Works and Rural Development Departments will revise minimum road width requirements for rural industries to improve infrastructure accessibility.
The meeting was also informed that an integrated GIS database would be created for industrial land in the Union Territory, linked with the India Industrial Land Bank (IILB). This initiative aims to enhance land availability and ensure transparency in its allocation for various purposes.
Discussions also included amendments to building regulations to reduce land loss in industrial and commercial plots, thereby facilitating better space utilisation.
Other key priority areas discussed included gender-inclusive labour reforms to remove prohibitions on women working in hazardous industries and permitting night time employment across sectors.
Additionally, the reforms propose third-party certification for environmental compliance, enhancing transparency in environmental regulations. The streamlined licensing process, fast-tracking of utility approvals—including electricity and water connections, as well as groundwater usage—were also highlighted as essential components of these reforms in the Union Territory.
