City-based MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry has submitted a memorandum to West Bengal Commerce and Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee seeking amendments to its draft investment and industrial policy.

The draft policy was announced on May 18 and seeks to make the State “industry friendly”.

The Chamber in its memorandum has sought an increase in the land ceiling laws of the State. While Section 14Y of West Bengal Land Reforms Act mandates a maximum ceiling of 24 acres, MCC has sought that it be increased to 1,500 acres to facilitate large and medium enterprises. Moreover, valuation of such land needs to be made at a concession if workers’ amenities such as housing and social facilities are put up along with the project.

Issues relating to direct purchase of land and the right of landless labourers and sharecroppers (called “bargadaars”) on such plots also need to be addressed in the policy.

Speedy clearances

Obtaining faster clearances for projects has been another key point in the memorandum. According to the Chamber specifying a time-frame to obtain clearances along with penalty measures in case of failure to comply with these rules needs to be taken care of in the policy.

A “time limit of 30 days” for approvals or rejections and another “15-days time-frame” for seeking explanations and carrying out other necessary paperwork has been suggested. Adequately staffing the departments for faster paper-work is yet another criterion.

Another point that the Chamber has pointed out is the issue of land bank. The memorandum suggests that details of plots, including its size, area, location and availability of infrastructure facility and electricity connections, be provided to enable entrepreneurs to make faster decisions on land requirements.

abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

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