In an impetus to the 'Make in Maharashtra' plan boost job creation through growth in the manufacturing sector, the state government plans to bring down the permissions needed to start new industries to just 25 from the previous 76 by July 15. This will reduce red-tapism and ensure ease of business.

"We have brought down the number of permissions to 37 from 76. We have asked departments to bring them down to 25… this will be done by July 15," state industries minister Subhash Desai, who was present at a review meeting conducted by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, told dna.

However, officials present at the meeting said Fadnavis had reviewed the progress of various departments on the set parameters and warned that no slippages would be tolerated in this strategic policy of the government. The official added that some departments involved in the exercise were found to be laggards and were asked to pull up their socks.

"Targets have been set on the parameters to be achieved and changes to be done by various departments. All departments have been told to achieve 100% by next month," the official said. Around 10 departments, including labour, industries, revenue, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), environment, and energy, are involved in the exercise to reduce permissions and consents.

"There is good progress (on the Make in Maharashtra) front," said Desai, adding, "the previous government had unnecessarily increased the number of these permissions."

"There was duplication in some permissions. At times, (entrepreneurs) had to go to different departments for the same permissions. So, we are trying to reduce the number of these consents," added Desai, stating that this paperwork and red-tapism had affected industrial investments in state, leading to stranded assets and an increasing debt burden on industries whose projects were set up but unable to commence operations due to lack of permissions.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has already issued notifications to ensure ease of business and promote the 'Make in India' agenda.

Sources said the MIDC had been asked to undertake GIS-mapping of industrial areas on a real-time basis, in a break from the present system where the corporation has historical data. This data will be converted to a real-time one. It is also enabling 'type plans', which were a set template in which entrepreneurs in industrial areas can self-certify their constructions if these plans were followed.

Since August 1991 to October 2014, 18,709 industrial proposals with an investment of Rs10,63,342 crore were approved in Maharashtra. Out of these, 8,376 projects (44.8%) with an investment of Rs2,54,784 crore (23.9%) and proposed employment of 10.95 lakh were commissioned and 2,115 projects with an investment of Rs88,086 crore and proposed employment of 3.03 lakh are under execution.

Of the total proposals received in the country, the state's share in the number of proposals and investment is about 18% and 10%, respectively. Of the total approved proposals in Maharashtra, electrical and electronics comprise 6.2%.