<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka’s new single-window system, which promises business approvals within 100 days, will need at least six more months to take off as bringing 30 departments under one roof has become a grand challenge. </p>.<p>The ambitious new system, designed by tech giant Microsoft, was unveiled at the Invest Karnataka summit in February. </p>.<p>At present, industrial projects in the state require approvals from 33 departments, covering 177 types of services. The average approval time in Karnataka is 300 to a year compared with 60-70 days in neighbouring states. </p>.<p>“Complete integration and sensitisation will take another six months,” Industries Minister M B Patil said. </p>.Workday to be extended in Karnataka? State proposes raises maximum working hours from 9 to 10 a day.<p>Patil said a meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, would be held along with other Cabinet colleagues. </p>.<p>“The single-window system isn’t about my department alone. It will involve forest, revenue and so on. They (ministers) need to be sensitised on things moving faster in their departments,” Patil said.</p>.<p>“Sometimes, there are delays from the Union Environment Ministry, which we’ll need to factor in. It’s a complex thing,” he said, insisting that the new single-window system, once ready, will be one of India’s best. </p>.<p>Facing stiff competition from other states, Karnataka has been trying to make investments a smooth affair.</p>.<p>In 2020-21, the government launched the affidavit-based clearance (ABC) system under which industries can start operations while getting a three-year window to obtain various permits. This failed to take off as banks are unwilling to provide loans based on ABC.</p>.<p>Right now, the state has two different portals - one for investment promotions and another for facilitation. After receiving in-principle approval, investors need to individually register with various departments and agencies, making it a “very tedious, cumbersome, time-consuming and inefficient” process, according to a note prepared by the Department of Industries and Commerce. Also, investors had to share project information with multiple departments or agencies, leading to “information redundancy”. </p>.<p>The new single-window system will provide investors the option of available all necessary services from one portal, without having to apply at multiple places. </p>.<p>Even the land allotment process will be under the single-window system.</p>.<p>“Land acquisition itself takes up to a year. We want to provide land in three months or under 100 days,” Patil said. </p>.<p>The government is borrowing Rs 5,000 crore from NABARD to clear all land payments to farmers and other stakeholders, he said. “We’ll keep these lands ready for select investment purposes.” </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka’s new single-window system, which promises business approvals within 100 days, will need at least six more months to take off as bringing 30 departments under one roof has become a grand challenge. </p>.<p>The ambitious new system, designed by tech giant Microsoft, was unveiled at the Invest Karnataka summit in February. </p>.<p>At present, industrial projects in the state require approvals from 33 departments, covering 177 types of services. The average approval time in Karnataka is 300 to a year compared with 60-70 days in neighbouring states. </p>.<p>“Complete integration and sensitisation will take another six months,” Industries Minister M B Patil said. </p>.Workday to be extended in Karnataka? State proposes raises maximum working hours from 9 to 10 a day.<p>Patil said a meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, would be held along with other Cabinet colleagues. </p>.<p>“The single-window system isn’t about my department alone. It will involve forest, revenue and so on. They (ministers) need to be sensitised on things moving faster in their departments,” Patil said.</p>.<p>“Sometimes, there are delays from the Union Environment Ministry, which we’ll need to factor in. It’s a complex thing,” he said, insisting that the new single-window system, once ready, will be one of India’s best. </p>.<p>Facing stiff competition from other states, Karnataka has been trying to make investments a smooth affair.</p>.<p>In 2020-21, the government launched the affidavit-based clearance (ABC) system under which industries can start operations while getting a three-year window to obtain various permits. This failed to take off as banks are unwilling to provide loans based on ABC.</p>.<p>Right now, the state has two different portals - one for investment promotions and another for facilitation. After receiving in-principle approval, investors need to individually register with various departments and agencies, making it a “very tedious, cumbersome, time-consuming and inefficient” process, according to a note prepared by the Department of Industries and Commerce. Also, investors had to share project information with multiple departments or agencies, leading to “information redundancy”. </p>.<p>The new single-window system will provide investors the option of available all necessary services from one portal, without having to apply at multiple places. </p>.<p>Even the land allotment process will be under the single-window system.</p>.<p>“Land acquisition itself takes up to a year. We want to provide land in three months or under 100 days,” Patil said. </p>.<p>The government is borrowing Rs 5,000 crore from NABARD to clear all land payments to farmers and other stakeholders, he said. “We’ll keep these lands ready for select investment purposes.” </p>
