Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of compliance reduction and deregulation reforms recommended by the National Task Force, headed by the Cabinet Secretary of India, to promote Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Commissioner Secretaries of Housing & Urban Development, Forest, Industries & Commerce, Rural Development Departments, Secretary Law, and Director Industries & Commerce, Jammu.
Chief Secretary Dulloo emphasized the urgency of full and time-bound compliance with the reform agenda, directing all administrative departments to monitor progress closely and ensure reforms are effectively implemented on the ground. He also stressed the importance of uploading evidentiary proof of compliance, calling these reforms crucial to building a business-friendly ecosystem in the Union Territory.
He instructed the Industries & Commerce Department to provide handholding support to departments to ensure timely documentation and reporting.
Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, shared that 434 reform points across departments have already been implemented. However, a few were returned by the Task Force for refinement. He assured that the gaps are being addressed proactively and pending compliance uploads would be completed in coordination with relevant departments.
Director Industries & Commerce, Jammu, Arun Kumar Manhas, outlined critical reform areas identified for immediate action, including:
Flexible zoning regulations in master plans for mixed land use
Simplification and digitization of the Change of Land Use (CLU) process
Rationalization of road width norms for industrial units in rural areas
Amendment of building bylaws to minimize land wastage in industrial/commercial plots
Lifting of restrictions on women working in hazardous sectors
Review of working hours under factory laws
Relaxation of business hours for commercial establishments
Provision of fire NOCs through third-party empanelled agencies
These reforms aim to streamline regulations, attract investments, and enhance industrial growth in the region.
It is worth noting that these initiatives are part of the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, with the goal of creating a simplified and investor-friendly regulatory environment across the country.