Make Odisha the easiest place to do business: Naveen

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, June 1: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today directed officials to accord top priority to simplify regulatory mechanisms to make Odisha one of the easiest places for doing business.Chairing over a meeting on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ at the secretariat here, Patnaik advised the officers to do away with old and redundant procedures, and synchronize multiple inspections.“We must learn the best practices across the world and move with times,” Patnaik said emphasising on the need to work in an atmosphere of trustHe suggested the officers to leverage the benefits of technology, and provide clearances in a transparent, hassle-free and time bound manner. The Industries Department is working with other concerned departments to bring about regulatory reforms and simplified procedures.The Chief Minister directed the officers of all the concerned departments to bring proposals in the next cabinet meeting, in case of any regulatory reform needs Cabinet approval.It was revealed in the meeting that the Department of Water Resources, State Pollution Control Board, Home Department and Labour & ESI Department have made significant improvements in developing e-biz, which have electronic mechanisms for clearances, payments, approvals etc.As per the decisions taken in the meeting, online payment of and return for entertainment tax will be implemented by June 30; Commercial Tax dept to issue approval certificates online in the form of digitally signed documents by June 30; and conducting of inspection as part of obtaining electric connection will also be done away with by June 30.The Pollution Control Board will introduce provision of online returns for various pollution related acts through a common application.The IPICOL will soon make notification to provide clear timelines for addressing investor grievances.A Central Inspection Agency will be set up soon which will be responsible for various inspections.The meeting was informed that data at Sub-Registrar’s office and Land Record Offices have been digitized.The Municipality land records will be digitized and will be integrated into the data of the Sub-Registrar’s office and Land Record Offices.The meeting was attended by Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray, Urban Development Minister Puspendra Singh Deo, Labour and ESI Minister Prafulla Mallick.