Punjab’s claim of removing red tapism has been exposed: Amit Thapar

Ludhiana, December 24, 2022: Amit Thapar, Chairman, Punjab Chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said Punjab’s claim of removing red tapism has been exposed as state’s mining department is issuing notices to industry to stop work and first seek permission from them in order execute construction of the projects.

In a statement issued here today, he added the view taken by mining department has given big jolt to the ease of doing business efforts. 

He said on one hand Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann is leaving no stone unturned to attract and bring in business and investment and on the other the Mining Department has included industry in definition of commercial activity. He added not only that, in notices sent to Investors under Invest Punjab mining department has threatened investors to stop project approved under Invest Punjab and stipulated that permission must be taken from mining department in order to execute the project.

Thapar said the state government is really working hard to attract industry and even CII also is inviting investors by informing advantages of Punjab, but such notices spoil the morale.

Adding, he said, while states are competing for investment and to generate employment, Punjab’s mining department is asking investors to stop work and first seek permission from them in order execute construction of the project there by adding another “red tape”. 

He said even under Right to Business Act such notice to seek permission should not have been issued. 

Thapar said he will take this up issue with Punjab’s Department of Industries informing that this will hurt state’s ease of doing business endeavour and rank. He would demand that such notice should be withdrawn, said Thapar.