Telangana promises land, swift approvals for industry

Hyderabad, July 22 (IANS) Offering land as a major incentive to the industry, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao Tuesday promised a legislation to accord all approvals at one place.

As an immediate measure a `chasing cell' will be opened in the chief minister's office to clear investment proposals in two to three weeks.

Interacting with industrialists over the industrial policy, he said 20 lakh acres of land unfit for cultivation could be made available for setting up of industries in the newly-created state. Out of this, three lakh acres can be made immediately available and most of it is in a distance of 100 to 110 km around Hyderabad.

Rao said Telangana had inherent strength in the form of huge government land and a survey to identify the exact amount of land available for industry will be completed by month-end. He said plug-n-play infrastructure will be provided to the industry on the lines of China.

The chief minister said the proposed single window system for clearances to industry would be transparent, corruption-free and best than the one existing in Singapore.

The `chasing cell' will give 25 to 35 approvals presently given by different departments. The move is expected to ease doing business.

Promising that the investors will be welcomed with a personal touch, he said a website will be created to enable investors to apply online in the format prescribed for the relevant sector.

"Once the genuineness of an investor is established, he will receive a phone call to come to Hyderabad along with his team. They will be welcomed at the airport by the protocol officer," the chief minister told the industrialists.

The chief minister along with the chief secretary and secretary industry will have a brief meeting with the team. After two to three weeks depending on the kind of industry, the chief minister will handover an envelope containing all approvals.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, vowed to make Hyderabad a hub for both software and hardware industry. He said a new world-class master plan would be prepared for the city as its population would double to two crore with the setting up of Information Technology and Investment Region (ITIR) already approved by the Centre.

Admitting that the state is facing electricity shortage, he promised to make it a power-surplus state in three years. There will be dedicated 1,000 Megawatt power station for ITIR to ensure round-the-clock supply.

He told the industrialists that the state is taking all steps to overcome the power shortage. These include laying of transmission line to purchase power from Chhattisgarh. He also asked state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited to acquire coal mines abroad.

KCR promised 10 percent allocation to the industry in the water in all irrigation projects.

He also assured the industry that steps will be taken to boost real estate sector in Hyderabad.

Stating that the government is taking steps to make Hyderabad best regulated city, he tried to allay apprehensions in the wake of ongoing demolitions of unauthorized structures. He denied that the government is targeting any particular section.

Representatives from 45 industry associations like CII, FICCI and Assocham participated in the meeting and submitted their suggestions and recommendations.