EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
Unhappy with Assam’s 23rd ranking, CM issues deadline to 11 key departments
BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Oct 22: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal has given a deadline to 11 key State government departments to achieve 100 per cent ‘ease of doing business’ compliance from its present 72 per cent. After taking charge as CM, Sonowal has taken it as challenge to put Assam forward among States in the ease of doing business index, but things haven’t been moving the way he expected. Assam presently ranks 23rd among the States in this index.
The Assam Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2016 was passed in June last in the Assembly to facilitate ease of doing business in the State. The bill seeks to attract fresh investment in the State through an easy computerized clearance system. This was the first bill passed by the BJP-led government in the State.
The departments given the deadline by the Chief Minister are Revenue, Fince, Urban Development, Law and Judiciary, Forest and Environment, Taxation, Pollution Control, Industry and Commerce, Fire and Emergency, Labour and Employment, and Power.
Taking an urgent view of the need of industrialization in the State, Sonowal said that to attract investors, the tax regime has to be adopted working around the new GST regime. “We must send a sigl to industrialists and prospective investors that the government is very serious about providing business-friendly environment for commerce and industry to flourish in the State,” he said.
The government will try to exploit the special provision for Himalayan States under GST regime — and the matter will be taken up with the Central government that it will be not proper to club Assam with other developed States so far as economic policies are concerned. As the Northeast States along with J&K come under special category States, there must be ways to provide certain exemptions to investors in the tax structure so that they are attracted to come here and set up businesses despite the perceived socio-political condition of the State.
Sonowal also said he will write to the Prime Minister regarding the matter so that Assam’s case is considered differently by the Centre.
Citing examples indicating a positive trend in the economy of the State, Sonowal said Baba Ramdev is going to invest in a big way in the State and a few other major business players have also decided to establish their plants here. The tea sector is a prime example of how business houses can make profit and contribute to the State’s economy by being steadfast in a supposedly adverse socio-political environment, added the Chief Minister.
Expressing concern over the 23rd position of Assam among States in the ease of doing business index, Sonowal said there would be a single window for granting necessary permissions to business houses so that transparency and swiftness can be maintained in facilitating a business-friendly environment.
He also said a Land Bank has been mooted to be set up in the State so that lands can be leased to prospective investors, and also lands lying unused by defunct public enterprises would be taken back by the government so as to be placed under Land Bank.
DEPARTMENTS GIVEN CM’s DEADLINE
Revenue, Fince, Urban Development, Law and Judiciary, Forest and Environment, Taxation, Pollution Control, Industry and Commerce, Fire and Emergency, Labour and Employment, and Power