UP council is autonomous

The Uttar Pradesh assembly today passed the UP Development Council Bill 2006 to accord institutional status to the UP Development Council, with retrospective effect from October 15, 2003.

If Governor TV Rajeshwar gives his assent to the Bill, the UPDC will become a local authority with "autonomous" status. Today was the last day of the session of the House, which began on November 21 last year.

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's party colleague Amar Singh, who is also the Samajwadi Party general secretary, heads the panel with the status of cabinet minister.

The UPDC was set up as a society under the Firms and Societies Act on October 10, 2003, soon after Mulayam Singh Yadav took over as chief minister of UP in August 2003. The creation of the Council was billed as harbinger of industrial development in UP.

The Council was set up to attract investment in the state by removing bottlenecks, and also to suggest measures to the cabinet for cutting red tape, aimed at creating more job opportunities.

Apart from glamorous Amitabh Bacchan, who is also the brand ambassador of UP, the council includes Kumarmanglam Birla, former Hindisutan Lever chairman M S Banga, Adi Godrej, M V Kamath, and Subrato Roy.

Piloting the bill in assembly minister for industrial development Khawja Halim said the UPDC had a stellar role in advising the government for framing new policies for attracting investment in the state.

He said with the efforts of UPDC, investment proposals worth Rs 33,000 crore have been received by UP, by the end of 2005, which was a record. He said the government giving due recognition to the role of UPDC decided to upgrade its status as an autonomous local authority.

As per the provisions of the bill, the chairman of the UPDC would be appointed by the state government and would enjoy five years term. Chief secretary of the state has been designated as the convener of the council.

Principal secretaries of the departments of industrial development, energy, finance, excise, stamps and registration. trade tax, tourism, labor and environment and CMDs of the PSU power utilities .

Besides the state government would have the authority to nominate 12 members from the Indian corporate world, who would also have a five years term. The government has also reserved the right to appoint special invitees to the council.

As regards its function, the UPDC would endeavor to create an atmosphere conducive for investment, cut down procedural delays and the council head office would be located in Lucknow.