The Hindu : Naidu for end to 'inspector raj'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 06, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Naidu for end to 'inspector raj'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD DEC. 5. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has called upon officials of the Industries Department to `chase' potential investors and facilitate them to set up industrial units instead of making industrialists run after them.

Making it clear that he wanted the red carpet treatment given to investors, he told industrial promotion officers on Thursday to shed their traditional mindset of lording it over others merely because they held positions in the Government. They would become superfluous if they failed to attract investors.

Inaugurating a three-day workshop on `governing for results' for the Industries Department here, Mr. Naidu wanted unnecessary inspections of industrial units to be stopped. In spite of inspections, violations of various laws were not coming down.

"I do not find any role for the Departments of Boilers and Factories and the Electrical Inspectorate. I often receive requests to post a particular officer in this Inspectorate, apparently to enable him to make money,'' he said.

The Chief Minister indicated that the Electrical Inspectorate would be scrapped and its functions entrusted to the APTRANSCO.

Responding to a suggestion by the Industries Minister, K. Vidyadher Rao, he said the inspection work could even be privatised. "What do they do except giving approval for electrical designs.''

Deprecating the existence of unnecessary rules, procedures and application forms, he disclosed that a committee headed by N. Vittal, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), had been constituted for simplification of procedures and removal of inspections.

The Government's policy, he said, was to empower people and investors and confine itself to the role of promoter.

He observed that the system of `escort services' for investors had not paid dividends, and cited the example of Maharashtra where industrialists were wooed from the time they drafted their plans till they actually set up their units.

In Singapore, applications for setting up industries were cleared within three hours.

Mr. Rao, in a brief intervention, said high power tariffs and the inspection regime, were major bottlenecks in attracting investments.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Naidu for end to 'inspector raj'

Three farmers end lives

TTD's `mega plan' runs into trouble

Extend liberal linkage to SHGs, banks told

Security tightened at Tirumala

Four naxals surrender

SVU, college lock horns over fee issue

Paritala evasive on TD membership impasse

FCI to procure one lakh tonnes of rice from millers

Officials asked to inform ryots about water supply

Two special trains to clear winter rush