Harassed MNCs take up files delay woes with CM K Chandrasekhar Rao

Hyderabad: In the existing method, investors have to approach nearly 30 government departments to secure approvals. The prominent being No Objection Certificates from the Pollution Control Board, department of Forests and Environment, Fire Services besides approvals from Roads and Buildings, HMDA, GHMC, Water Board, Electricity department etc. There is no specific timeframe to clear these proposals and it takes two to five years and more.

The normal practice being adopted by officials to delay proceedings is by keeping files pending with them under one pretext or the other till the last minute and then issue notices pointing out deficiencies and seek rectifications. After coming out with rectifications, they raise few more queries and seek explanations. It goes on and on till investors succumb to their demands for bribes.

Big MNCs like Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson etc. too were the victims of red tape and could not launch operations in Mahbubnagar till recently though the proposals had been submitted nearly two years ago. In fact, these MNCs took up the issue with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who was invited to launch the projects two weeks ago.

They complained that the R&B department and HMDA had harassed them by not giving approvals and had de-manded up to Rs 5 crore to provide connecting roads to their units. In the public meeting held at the project site, Mr Rao had remarked, “I came to know that the R&B and other departments had harassed you and two others MNCs.

I know the officers who have done it. It’s not good. I regret what has happened. It will not be repeated. We will soon have world’s No 1 industrial policy and single window system. A Bill is ready and will be passed in the ensuing Budget session. I was told that some officials demanded Rs 4-5 crore for providing connecting roads to MNCs. Stop such things immediately. Ours is a new state. We need investors to provide jobs for the youth.” Mr Rao had transferred the HMDA commissioner the same day and sent a strong message that the government would not tolerate such high-handedness of officials.