Odisha constitutes panel for clearing tourism projects

The Odisha government has constituted a 13-member special single window clearance committee for promotion of tourism and industries related projects in the tourism sector for investment up to Rs 50 crore as required in the new Tourism Policy-2013.

The committee is headed by the state chief secretary.

Apart from the chief secretary, additional chief secretary- revenue and disaster management department and secretaries of tourism, industries, forest and environment and MSME departments are members of the committee.

The panel also has members from Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Chilka Development Authority. Chairman-cum-managing director of Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) is the member convenor.

"The said committee shall exercise such powers and functions as are exercisable by the state level single window clearance authority under subsections (2) to (6) both inclusive of section 4 of the Odisha Industries Facilitation Act in relation to the tourism sector and shall also have power to consult experts who have special knowledge and practical experience in the matters relating to, or relevant to, such tourism projects under consideration by the committee," read an industries department notification.

In the new policy, a three tier Single Window Clearance Authority (SWCA) will clear all private sector tourism projects.

For investment upto Rs 50 crore, the Special Single Window Clearance Authority (SSWCA) will clear the proposals. Similarly, for investments above Rs 50 crore and up to Rs 1,000 crore, the clearance will be given by a State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) and investments above Rs 1,000 crore will be vetted by the High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) headed by the chief minister.

After getting the nod of SSWCA, the DIC (district industries centre) approved hotel projects will be provided land after the decision of the recommendation committee as per 6.3.3 clause of the Tourism Policy-2013, said tourism minister Maheswar Mohanty.