Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over delays in land-use conversion and NOC approvals, warning of strict action against officials responsible for slowing down Karnataka’s industrial clearance process.
Chairing the 66th meeting of the State High-Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC) at Vidhana Soudha, the CM directed all departments to ensure faster approvals and maintain Karnataka’s image as a progressive and investor-friendly state.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ministers M.B. Patil, K.J. George, Priyank Kharge, Dr. M.C. Sudhakar, Santosh Lad, Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary Anjum Parvez, GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, and senior officials were present.
CM unhappy over clearance delays, demands accountability
CM Siddaramaiah noted that industrial proposals were being unnecessarily delayed at multiple levels of approval, particularly in land-use conversion and issuance of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs).
“Departments must submit detailed proposals to reduce processing time. Delays in approvals cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” the Chief Minister warned.
He also directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Fire and Emergency Services Department to revise their internal regulations and expedite environmental and safety clearances.
“Action will be taken against officials who fail to clear files within the prescribed timelines,” CM Siddaramaiah cautioned, expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of coordination among departments.
Other key highlights of the SHLCC meeting:
- Policy Reforms: The Cabinet will soon approve amendments to simplify procedures and strengthen Karnataka’s industry-friendly ecosystem.
- Infrastructure Coordination: Departments were asked to work together to provide roads, water, and power connectivity to new industries.
- Green Energy Push: Industries must be encouraged to shift towards renewable and clean energy sources.
- Labour Welfare: Upcoming central labour reforms will be implemented keeping workers’ interests in mind, Siddaramaiah said.
- Single-Window System Expansion: 29 services still outside the unified clearance portal will be brought under the single-window mechanism for integrated processing.
- Investment Progress: Karnataka has attracted ₹10.27 lakh crore worth of investment proposals, with 60% already under implementation. Another ₹1.5 lakh crore worth of proposals are in various stages of approval.
CM Siddaramaiah reiterated that the government will maintain zero tolerance for bureaucratic delays and hold officials personally accountable to ensure Karnataka retains its position as India’s top investment destination.
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