Firms can take work approval online

The Uttar Pradesh government has joined hands with the city's industrial sector to put in place an effective and well-monitored system under which businessmen looking to set up operations in the state could apply for approvals online and monitor the progress of their applications on the Internet.

The applications filed online will go to the state's single-table system of clearance. The system, in place since December 1998, is being strengthened.

"We are giving statutory back-up to the single-table system. If there is delay in clearing a proposal without assigning a reason, it will get deemed approval," said Atul Kumar Gupta, principal secretary, industrial development corporation of the state.

This move is in response to a World Bank report, which stated that any approval procedure in the state involved as many as 20 clearances and took too much time.

The system of online applications will run on a software developed by engineers of the Indian Industrial Association, the industrial body of the state.

"The lack of an effective monitoring system was the reason why the single-table system concept was not fruitful," said IIA executive director DS Verma. IIA will also be involved in the operation of the system.

Entrepreneurs will get a personal control number on registration. General manager of the District Industries Centre will spearhead the single-table clearance system. The new system will help entrepreneurs submit forms on weekdays.

However, on Friday, general manager, DIC, will convene a meeting of the heads of the various nodal departments to look into the validity of the forms. If the forms are correct, the applications will show a green button on the website. Otherwise, a red button.

The shortcomings of the single-table system will be overcome by the online format. "The dry run of the online system will start soon and the prospects of its success are very high," said IIA executive director DS Verma.