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The state government has mooted the development of land bank of 50,000 acres for industrial and public purpose.
Stressing on building industrial infrastructure, the state chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati has asked the industries department to develop a land bank of at least 50,000 acres for public and industrial purposes.
The industries department has also been asked to work out definite strategies for land acquisition in the light of the new Land Acquisition Act.
With a view to facilitate and hasten the pace of industrialisation, Pati has emphasised on streamlining the single window mechanism, increasing frequency of meetings of the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority and addressing issues of already cleared projects.
The industries department that is giving final touches to the new Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR), has been instructed to finalise it by the end of this month.
The draft IPR that will replace IPR-2007, among other things, proposes to exclude new industrial units and existing units taking up expansion and modernisation programmes from paying land premium. The micro and small units in non-priority sector can avail waiver on premium up to 100 per cent for land area of five acres whereas medium scale units will be entitled to 75 per cent exemption for an area not exceeding 25 acres.
The new IPR promises 50 per cent exemption for large industrial units for an area of up to 500 acres. Similarly, the priority sector units can enjoy 100 per cent exemption in premium payment to Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) upto 1,000 acres of land.
Reaffirming the state government’s focus to development of downstream industries, the chief secretary said steel plants should be asked to promote the downstream industries and at least 25 per cent of the steel produced in the Odisha should be put to value addition in downstream industries. The industries department would deploy dedicated teams for development of each industrial cluster. The teams will be responsible for ensuring development of projects in the stipulated timeline. The team would regularly visit the industries and advise them on necessary technological upgradation and capacity enhancement.
The state’s land acquisition agency Idco will work out a district wise strategy for development of downstream and ancillary sectors. The exercise is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
As many as 106 industrial estates/parks have already been established in the state. Idco is currently facilitating 226 industrial projects in the state.
