Cos need not wait for NA certificate to start projects

Acquisition of agriculture land for IT, biotech as well as agro and food processing activities has been made hassle-free in Gujarat. Now, corporates or individuals need not wait for NA permission to start their projects.

In a move to speed up implementation of projects in these sectors, Gujarat government through its notification has decided accord "deemed NA" status to agriculture land purchased by any corporate or individual for industrial activities in IT, biotech as well as agro and food processing sectors.

Simply put companies starting projects in these three areas need not wait for NA certificate to start their projects and can furnish the same within a stipulate period.

Conversion of agriculture land to non agriculture (NA) is mandatory for undertaking any industrial activities. The "deemed NA" permission means that agriculture land acquired for any project will be treated as having NA (or NA will be given to such land).

Industry groups or individuals have to go through tedious bureaucratic process to get NA permission, which involves obtaining no-objection certificates from 12 different government departments.

Often this prolonged process results into delays in project implementations. With a view to encouraging investments in IT, biotech, agro and food processing sectors, the state government has decided to give deemed NA permission for agriculture land acquired by any individual or company or industry group to start industrial activities in these three sectors, government sources explained. District collectors have been empowered to give deemed NA permission to projects with