Conversion of land turns simpler for industrial purpose

Vijayawada: In what could be described as a big boost to the entrepreneurs and improving ease of doing business in the State, the Industries Department has introduced online conversion of land use for industrial purpose.

Now the entrepreneurs could get permission for land conversion within 120 days, says Siddharth Jain, Commissioner of Industries. He said in a statement here on Tuesday that the entrepreneurs could apply for conversion of land for industrial purpose from other purposes through Single Desk Portal on the website of the Industries Department.

The Commissioner explained that the prescribed time for getting permission for conversion of land use will be 120 days from the date of filing the application on Single Desk Portal. Elaborating the procedure, he said that after entrepreneur submits application on SDP, the local body/municipality/ UDAs receives the application.

The application passes through different levels municipal council, municipal commissioner, Directorate of Town & Country Planning (DT&CP/ UDA) and the government. During this period, the fee will be paid by the applicant for the conversion of land use. DT&CP again forwards the application to the government with the details of fee.

Then the government issues orders regarding approval and forwards it to the DT&CP. After receiving it, the local body/municipality needs to publish the notification in a newspaper and should forward the application to DT&CP along with specific recommendation/ remarks if any.

DT&CP forwards it to the government for issue of GO for the approval. All this process needs to be completed in 120 days. After the issuance of GO, the conversion of land use will be official for industrial purposes.

The Commissioner stated that in panchayats and municipalities, the automation of conversion of land use application process shall encourage investors to invest as the process of making the available land for industrial use has been made simpler. “This in turn helps in industrial growth of the state,” he asserted.