In UP, firms can take work approval on-line

The Uttar Pradesh government has joined hands with the city's industrial sector to put in place an effective and well-monitored system under which businessmen looking to set up operations in the state could apply for approvals on-line and monitor the progress of their applications on the Internet.

The applications filed on-line will go to the state's single-table system of clearance. The system, in place since December 1998, is being strengthened.

"We are giving statutory back-up to the single-table system. If there is delay in clearing a proposal without assigning a reason, it will get deemed approval," said Atul Kumar Gupta, principal secretary, industrial development corporation of the state.

This move is in response to a World Bank report which stated that any approval procedure in the state involved as many as 20 clearances and took too much time.

The system of on-line applications will run on a software developed by engineers of the Indian Industrial Association (IIA), the industrial body of the state.

"The lack of an effective monitoring system was the reason why the single-table system concept was not fruitful," said IIA Executive Director DS Verma. IIA will also be involved in the operation of the system.

Entrepreneurs will get a personal control number on registration. General manager of the District Industries Centre (DIC) will spearhead the single-table clearance system.

The new system will help entrepreneurs submit forms on weekdays.

However, on Friday, general manager, DIC, will convene a meeting of the heads of the various nodal departments to look into the validity of the forms. If the forms are correct, the applications will show a green button on the website. Otherwise, a red button.

The shortcomings of the single-table system will be overcome by the on-line format. "The dry run of the on-line system will start soon and the prospects of its success are very high," said IIA Executive Director DS Verma.