Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha’s Department of Industries had launched a district-wise formal engagement initiative named ‘Industry Care’ in December last year to raise awareness about business reforms and institutional mechanisms among industries and resolve their issues with various Government departments on a high priority basis. The engagement was also aimed at facilitating the expansion of new units coming up in the State.
The sixth meeting under this priority State Government initiative was held with Sundergarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur based industries at the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation’s (IDCO) office in Bhubaneswar today.
Sundergarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur are critical to Odisha’s industrialization and many industries across sectors operating in these districts have planned expansion. The meeting was attended by 24 companies which included Vedanta, MBPL, NTPC, BPCL, NLC India Ltd., Hindalco Industries Ltd., Rungta Mines, TRL Krosaki, Shyam Metallics and Energy Ltd., Bhaskar Steel and Ferro Alloy Pvt. Ltd. among others.
The meeting began with a presentation on all the business reforms and facilitation mechanisms institutionalized by the State Government. This was followed by a discussion on industry feedback to the business reforms implemented by the State Government. One-on-one meetings with companies which had specific issues were conducted. The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Principal Secretary, Industries Department & Chairman, IPICOL along with Shri Sanjay Singh, CMD, IDCO and Dr. Nitin Jawale, MD, IPICOL. The senior officials from State Level Facilitation Cell (SLFC), Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Directorate of Factories & Boilers, Department of Water Resource, Department of Energy, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Directorate of Industries, EIC (Electricity) cum-PCEI were present in addition to senior officials from IPICOL and IDCO.
Commenting on the initiative during the meeting, Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Odisha said, “We are happy to note the encouraging response from the industries in Sundergarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur who came forward to discuss their issues with us for time-bound resolution under the “Industry Care” initiative. The Industries Department launched this initiative as the need for focused attention on grievance redressal at district level was felt. The objective of this initiative, being organized on a fortnightly basis, is to raise awareness about business reforms and facilitation mechanisms made available by the State Government and resolve the issues faced by industries with various Government departments. This stems from the fact that existing industries are the most critical stakeholders of Odisha’s industrial ecosystem.
The response from industries to this initiative has been encouraging and we are committed to help address their issues in a streamlined and expeditious manner. We have been able to resolve 70% of the issues raised during the Industry Care meetings in past two and a half months, which speaks of the success of this initiative.”
Sharing an industry perspective, Mr. Ashish Beriwala, Bhaskar Steel and Ferro Alloy Pvt. Ltd. said that it has been a decade since they set up our industry in Odisha. He appreciated the Industry Care initiative and the close coordination carried out between industries and Government departments to ensure smooth functioning of businesses in Odisha. He said the initiative will go a long way in enhancing the ease of doing business in the state.
Mr. Sanjay Pattnaik, Vedanta Ltd. said, “Industry Care developed by the Industries Department, Government of Odisha is a fabulous initiative. It is a brilliant exercise initiated by Industries Department and the participation of senior Government officials in the meetings shows the seriousness of Government. I urge my fellow industrialists to make full use of this initiative.”
Notably, the Department has undertaken a series of business reforms to enhance ease of doing business in the state. These include the launch of a Government of Odisha – Single Window for Investor Facilitation and Tracking (GO-SWIFT), consent management system for various applicable environmental Acts for industries made online, synchronized joint inspection for the Directorate of Factories and Boilers, Labour Directorate and Odisha State Pollution Control Board, reduction in timeline for tree transit permission from 180 days to 43 days, voluntary compliance scheme for industries and commercial establishments, building plan approval made online and to be provided within 30 days, issuance of e-stamp certificates introduced, grant of registration certificate under professional tax to be provided ordinarily within one day, temporary allocation of water for construction of industries for six months is ensured within a period of 30 days from the date of submission of the application among others.
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