Mumbai: In yet another move to attract investments once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the Maharashtra government has taken a crucial decision to do away with any permission for the next three years. Under the "zero parvana" (zero permission) scheme, the investors in green and orange zones will have to submit their proposals with necessary details on a special portal through self-certification, and within 24 hours the state-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will issue consent to set up their shop.
In green and orange zones, industries from electronics, food processing, engineering, formulation, logistics, garment, and textile are covered. MIDC has already set up a portal to facilitate investors to submit self-certification.
In case of the red zone, where chemical, bulk drug, paper, steel industries are allowed, MIDC will issue consent after submission of self-certification by the investor in 15 days. This was announced by Industries Minister Subhash Desai. He informed that nearly 40,000 acres of land in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and Aurangabad has been reserved to attract new investments.
MIDC CEO P Anbalagan told FPJ: "This is going to be a game-changer with the incentive eco-system remaining, by and large, the same across Maharashtra. The state is quite strong in the best available eco-system in most of the sectors and with strong skilled workforce, the state will march ahead of others in attracting investments."
IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry deputy director general Sanjay Mehta said that the government's move will see lot of manufacturing units establishing its presence in Maharashtra that will be a big boon the state economy. He further noted that after three years also the government should ensure now that there will not be any retrospective measures.
As reported by FPJ, the state government has announced a plug and play policy whereby the investors can come and set up their shop on lease rental land. Of the 2,10,000 acres of land in MIDC’s possession 40,000 acres has been carved out for investors where they will be made available readymade shed so that they can install machinery and start production. On the other hand, MIDC will allot land on which the investor can set up factory.
Furthermore, the MIDC has allotted the land to investors on a short-term basis on rent. The premium for land will be recovered in instalments. The state industries department and MIDC have identified more than 2,500 companies from China, Taiwan and a couple of countries to attract investment of more than Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh crore. Furthermore, the government will set up Labour Bureau to recruit workers in all units, especially when migrant workers have left for their home states.
