New investment projects to be cleared in 30 days: Sukhbir

All new investment projects in Punjab will be cleared within 30 days instead of the stipulated 60 days at present, state's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said.
In an open house discussion with industrialists coming from across the state, Badal informed that the state government would pass a proposal to give incentives to existing units in the next cabinet on September 23.
The state government would ensure that new investments coming into food processing sector would get timely subsidy as proposed by the Centre, an official release quoting Badal said.
On the issue that no rules had been framed for expansion of existing units, Badal said that Punjab government was revising the industrial policy to bring required change to further make it more investment friendly.

He assured industrialists that all the benefits would be given to them with retrospective effect.
In conversation with the Deputy Chief Minister, some industrialists raised issues regarding the delay in clearances from National Highway Authority, Ministry of Forest and Central Drug authority.

Badal said he would personally take up the issue with concerned ministries.
He informed the industrialists that forest ministry had already amended the procedure for clearances and now onwards 'compensatory deposited' would be counted as clearance.
Earlier, after the depositing compensatory fee, industrialist had to wait for the clearance certificate from the Ministry of Forest.
Speaking on the suggestions made by investors, Badal has also announced that Punjab Government would take up the issue with Union Government to set up a National Tourism office at Amritsar as the city had a great potential to emerge as a tourism hub.

He also informed that Punjab is all set to launch the tourist travel circuit to increase tourist presence from existing 2.9 lakh to 10 lakh annually.
In reply to peak load issue Badal said that the government was open to revise its policy and imposing peak load charges on industry for four moths only instead of the entire year.
He also disclosed that being a power surplus state, Punjab has issued tender notice to sell 3000 MW power in the open market and subsequently the power tariff would be slashed in the coming year.