Panel to fast track infra building in remote areas

The government is all set to appoint a panel to provide speedy clearances in a span of three-months to ensure funds for small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The move will not just help the state governments to shift slum settlers to city clusters being set up along the Delhi-Mumbai national highways but also become source to attract foreign investment. In this connection, a Joint Secretary level officer has already been appointed to look after the foreign investment in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The government is making efforts towards decentralization of the industry as there is a centralization of industry in areas like Mumbai, Noida, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Chennai. It is also formulating a policy on how investment can be made more attractive in backward and tribal areas as the government is willing to build leather cluster along the highway. The ministry will offer plots and residential accommodation to people residing in Dharavi slums, create a Smart City with airport, port and railway station connectivity. He exhorted leather industry representatives to grab the offer with the help of the Maharashtra government and has also suggested that the leather industry must prepare a plan for the proposed cluster on the Delhi-Mumbai highway. The minister said he will also talk to the Maharashtra government on this score. The cluster will provide a good alternative to generate jobs to slum settlers, which in turn will help the state to decongest Dharavi slum, he added.