Jaipur: In a recent order, RIICO has taken away the powers of its unit heads (heads of industrial zones) and empowered its Advisor (Infra), headed by a state administrative officer, to allow time extensions for delays in start of commercial production by industrial units.Earlier, unit heads were delegated the power to decentralise the administrative structure so that factory owners from far-flung areas like Barmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, and others in the state did not need to come to Jaipur and knock on the doors of RIICO.Already, RIICO officials are battling for time to clear files as the workload from Rising Rajasthan MoUs keeps increasing. “The volume of workload shot up sharply due to Rising Rajasthan. RIICO is rushing to facilitate the allotment of land to thousands of MoU holders,” said an official of the corporation.He said if the cases of all the industrial zones reach the Advisor (Infra), it will overwhelm the system, resulting in further delays while hampering industrialisation. RIICO has 33 industrial zones with as many unit heads who are responsible for addressing the issues of the factories operating there, including giving time extensions for projects.According to the order, in cases where the delay is less than one year from the stipulated or extended date in the completion of construction and commencement of production, an additional period of a maximum of two years may be granted. Now, instead of unit heads, RIICO’s Advisor (Infra) has been entrusted with the responsibility to grant extensions of up to one year. In cases where a two-year extension is required, it will be decided by the RIICO MD.
