Telangana CM seeks suggestions on industrial policy

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will hold discussions with industry bodies and industrialists for over five hours and seek their suggestions in framing the new industrial policy for the new state.

Mr Rao wants to send a clear message to industrialists through the meeting that his government will not allow any kind of “political” or “administrative” corruption involving politicians, ministers or bureaucrats to give approvals to set up industries or in the allotment of land or incentives for the purpose and only “merit” will be taken into consideration by adopting transparent approval methods.

The Chief Minister will make a statement that about three lakh acre of land for industrial use will be made available in Telangana and the government will create an excellent infrastructure facilities on these lands.

Enthused with the good response coming from top global and national firms for investing in Telangana state ever since he assumed charge as Chief Minister, Mr Rao is keen to devise an “investor friendly policy” wherein all the approvals to set up any industry has to be given within 15 days through a single window system.

Top corporate honchos such as Reliance ADAG chairman Anil Ambani, Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik, Hinduja group chairman Ashok Hinduja, ITC Ltd executive director Pradip Dhobale and others have already met Mr Rao and evinced interest to invest in Telangana. Birla Group chief, Mr Chandrakanth Birla, who owns Orient Cement, is scheduled to meet Mr Rao on Saturday.

Information technology minister, K.T. Rama Rao, who is actively involved with the activities of the Industries department, said, “The meeting is primarily aimed at building cordial relations with top industry bodies and industrialists in the country and to showcase the huge potential that Telangana offers in various sectors. In united AP, the huge political corruption in giving approvals and lands in the city to set up industries has created a negative impact on investments. We want to rebuild the image of Hyderabad and Telangana state by offering a zero corruption industrial-policy.”

Meanwhile, a delegation from USA, led by Mr Arun M. Kumar, director-general of the US Foreign Commercial Service and assistant secretary for Global Markets, US Department of Commerce met the Chief Minister on Friday.

Mr Rao said that a “chasing cell” would be created in his office for expediting clearances of the proposals of industrialists within two weeks.

The delegation offered to set up a US consul’s office in Hyderabad soon. They also discussed the possibilities of organising a joint Indo-American summit later this year. Mr Rao also requested the delegation to include Hyderabad in the schedule of US President Mr Barack Obama during his India visit.