The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Regulatory Reform Commission (RRC) has recommended to cut short clearance time for industry establishment, both in zonal and environmental considerations.

Besides that, the RRC meeting yesterday also has recommended to issue both the clearances from a single office to save time as well as to avoid harassments.

Chairman RRC and former Adviser of Caretaker Government Dr Akbar Ali Khan disclosed this to the media at his office yesterday after the fourth RRC meting.

He said the Commission has discussed in details the environmental regulations for the establishment of new industry.

According to him, industry owners have to get zonal and environmental clearances from two different offices, which consume a lot of time as well as frustrates new investments.

"To create investment friendly environment in Bangladesh, we have recommended to issue both the clearances from a single office," said the RRC Chairman.

Besides that, the commission has also recommended reducing duration of clearance process. For this, all industries have been classified into threemajor categories, considering their level of threats to environment, he added.

"Most environmentally threatening 69 industries have been labelled 'Red'. Zonal and environmental clearance period for setting up such industries takes 90 days and 60 days accordingly. It was recommended to reduce this to 45 and 30 days," said Dr Akbar Ali Khan.

Beside that, total 26 industries were identified as less threatening and labelled Orange (A,B) during the meeting, he said.

Clearance duration for these orange (A,B) category was 60 days for zonal and 30 days for environmental. The commission has recommended reducing the time also to 30 and 15 days.

Sixty nine least environmentally threatening industries were listed and have been labelled 'Green'. Clearance period for this industry category was recommended 15 and three days accordingly, he added.

The RRC Chairman also thanked present Government for their immediate attention towards the RRC recommendations.

"It is a appreciative approach from Bangladesh Government as they are seriously considering each of our recommendations," he said.

As per our recommendations, authority has decided to publicise all Government gazettes through website from February 21, 2008. The website will be gradually upgraded, he added.

He also mentioned that the commission would undertake the NBR issues in their next official meeting.