The government has decided to take help from UK-based Department for International Development (DFID), now called UK Aid, to streamline the functioning of its single-window system.
Set up in 2006, the system aims to ensure quick disposal of proposals related to investments in the state. "Streamlining the single-window system is the priority of the government that is serious about industrialisation. We don't want a potential investor to run around different departments to get approvals that are mandatory for setting up of industries in Bihar. Hence, we have decided to rope in DFID to improve the functioning of the system," industries minister Shyam Rajak said on Wednesday.
The DFID or UK Aid is a part of the UK government that works in partnership with developing countries to promote development and reduce extreme poverty.
When quizzed about a timeframe by when the single-window system would be functional, the minister couldn't provide a proper answer. "We want it to happen soon. It has been stated that any potential investor should get approvals for power and environment (pollution control) as soon as possible. These are the basic approvals needed to start any industry in the state. And now with the agency helping us, we do believe that the single-window system in Bihar will turn into one among the best in the country," the minister, said.
A single-window system is a facility under which all kinds of approvals, when it comes to industries, are available in one place and the investor doesn't have to run from one table to the other for approvals to set up industry.
"We have a private industrial area policy in place and three of them have already been established. Land will not be an issue. At present, there are 1,974 proposals for industries with the government. Of them, 278 industrialists are on ground and working," Rajak added.
"In the past nine years, the government couldn't improve the single-window system and finally they have given it to an agency. The single-window system is the basic need for any state if it is interested in industrialisation. The state talks about its private industrial area policy but the fact remains that the one in Mokama is ready since more than a year but has not seen any investors until now," an industrialist said.
