GUWAHATI: Reacting to the statement of Assam Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on the MSME Ordinance, Prabajan Virodhi Manch (PVM) convener and senior advocate Upamanyu Hazarika raised a few questions.
"The Industry Minister said yesterday that under the ordinance no permission would be required towards setting up an industry for the first 3 years and after completion of 3 years within 6 months, all the documentation/permission have to be obtained. In other words, set up an industry without any condition and after 3 years, do all the documentation. If the industry happens to be noncompliant, then it has to shut down. It is like building a house now without any permission and after 3 years seeking permission and if there is any lapse, the house has to be demolished.
"According to the Minister, 25-30 permissions from various Government departments are required to establish an industry and if any of such permission is rejected, then the entire industry has to be closed after three years. Would it not be better to complete the documentation now rather than doing it 3 years later and facing an uncertain future?
"What was required for the Government is to implement the decision of the Cabinet of 21st December 2019 where it was resolved to bring in legislation reserving land for indigenous, employment and trade licenses also for indigenous which would have truly benefited the indigenous people. On the other hand, all large procurement contracts during COVID-19 have gone to non-indigenous amounting to hundreds of crores."
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