‘One stop shop’ to replace ‘single window’ to attract investments

JAIPUR: Struggling with financial crisis, the state government is considering replacing the single window system with ‘one stop shop’ to attract investments in Rajasthan, officials said.

The ‘one stop shop’ (OSS) is being set up to facilitate investment proposals of over Rs 10 crore, expediting approvals and clearances in the Bureau of Investment and Promotions (BIP). Necessary amendments will be made for the same in the Rajasthan Enterprises Single Window Enabling and Clearance Act 2011, officials said.

OSS will be a single point of contact for regulatory clearances and fiscal incentives and will issue approvals to facilitate investors who are looking to set up a businesses in Rajasthan. As a nodal agency, BIP, has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring a smooth transition of the project from the proposal stage to implementation stage.

“Besides the existing powers of Commissioner (investment and NRI), additional powers would be given under OSS such as authority to issue specific clearances, which the departments, agencies, authorities and local bodies concerned has not provided, after following the due process within the stipulated time. The powers will be exercised by the Commissioner till the commencement of production of the project,” said Subodh Agarwal, additional chief secretary, industry department.

An official of the Industry department on condition anonymity said such powers to the commissioner weren’t there in the single window system (SWS). In OSS additional powers have also been given to BIP such as it would exercise powers of all departments, agencies, authorities and local bodies as devolved under their respective rules and regulations to carry out the objective of the Act.

The government will constitute a seven-member Board of Investment, which will be headed by the CM, vice-chairman (industry ministers), and finance minister, chief secretary, head of department finance and industries, and Commissioner BIP as member. The Board will work on approval of policies, programmes and schemes; incentives, relaxations and packages to the investors.

“The officials of 15 departments such as cooperative, energy, industry, labour, health, local self governance, PHED, PWD etc will be sitting on part time basis at BIP to speed up efforts in getting necessary approvals. If the sanctions aren’t received in the stipulated time the Commissioner BIP will issue the sanction,” said the official.

The Congress government led by CM Ashok Gehlot in its election manifesto had also promised making SWS more effective to encourage the business climate in the state. “Rajasthan probably will be the fifth state after Punjab, Haryana, Telangna and Andhra Pradesh to establish OSS,” said the official.