The industry department has written to all states and select ministries, including finance and environment, to take all required measures for speedy implementation of its ambitious National Manufacturing Policy which was approved by the Cabinet last month.
“There is an urgent need to arrest the slowdown in Indian manufacturing and it is important for the policy to be implemented in a time-bound manner,” DIPP secretary P K Chaudhery has written in his letter to his counterparts in departments of revenue and economic affairs and ministries of labour and environment and all state chief secretaries.
The manufacturing policy aims to create 100 million additional jobs by 2025 and develop new mega industrial zones ( NMIZ) with world-class infrastructure facilities and flexible labour and environment regulations.
In its letter, the department, which is the nodal industrial policy-making body of the country, urged states to identify suitable land bank for creation of the industrial townships and make available the necessary industrial infrastructure and has put a time bound on the implementation of the policy.
“The land for these zones will preferably be waste infertile land and defunct industrial land which is not suitable for cultivation,” a senior official in the department told ET.
Till now only Andhra Pradesh has shown interest and has started acquiring a wasteland bank for setting up the NMIZs. We have urged the other states to examine the policy urgently,” the official elaborated.
Additionally, the secretary of DIPP has also intimated the ministries concerned to schedule meetings of officers to get the process started as soon as possible
As demanded by the environment ministry, the policy note has given way to delegate all powers of inspection under existing Acts to a State Pollution Control Board (SPCBs) official. Further, DIPP has also expressed urgency in the constitution of Green Manufacturing Committee which would ensure access to ‘Clean and Green’ technology in the industrial zones.
The industry ministry had also decided to go forward with the request of the labour ministry which wanted to make the CEO of the Special Purpose Vehicle in each zone responsible for inspection and enforcement to be a government official. Moreover the government will be responsible for auditing to ensure compliance with labour welfare.
Moreover, the manufacturing policy seeks to incentivise small industries and has provided for special packages for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) under environmental audits, water audits and financing. In its letter to the secretary of MSME, it has pushed for creation of SME clusters and for generating awareness.
