MUMBAI: Only five permissions are now needed for setting up an industry in Maharashtra.

Earlier this month, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) issued a circular bringing down the number of permissions required from the proposed 14 to five from 67 till now, said Anand Rayate, joint chief executive officer, MIDC. Setting up an industry in MIDC estates required 67 permissions. Nineteen more permissions are required from the Centre before an industry can begin production.

Bhushan Gagrani, CEO, MIDC, said: “The permissions which have been brought down to five are only for MIDC areas. For non-MIDC areas, the secretary, industry, is still reviewing the situation. Tomorrow, the chief secretary will hold a meeting where various departments concerned such as labour and environment have been told to come up with very specific suggestions on reducing permssions for non-MIDC areas as well.” For non-MIDC areas, the approvals needed remain unchanged at 67.

A departmental study says the average timeline for setting up an industry in Maharashtra is six to eight months for micro industries, 15-18 months for small and medium enterprises, and more than 24 months for large or mega industries.

When BJP legislator Devendra Fadnavis took over as chief minister, he promised that permissions required will be lowered to 15. Over the past month, the industry department has further reduced them to five.

The five approvals include permission for land allotment, to mortgage, building plan approval, building completion certificate and final fire NOC approval. “Approvals for effluent treatment plant, sewage treatment plant and water supply connection have been clubbed with building plan approval while the power connection NOC has been combined with the allotment letter,” said sources. Rayate said all offices concerned with giving permissions have already been informed about the change. If you apply for permission, it will be given in 15 days.

