Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant has expressed dissatisfaction with a few recent administrative decisions taken in his department without informing him. In a letter to the principal secretary of the State Industries Department and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Samant conveyed his concern that important policy decisions related to the MIDC and the industries department were being taken without consulting him. He instructed that from now on, such decisions should be made only after informing him.
The letter, dated February 4, emphasised the need for regular briefings from both the industries secretary and the MIDC CEO regarding key initiatives and pending matters in the department. He also highlighted the importance of decentralising authority within the department to align with the state’s ‘ease of doing business’ policy.
Samant noted, “Over the past few years, critical policy decisions concerning the MIDC and the industries department have been made at the administrative level without my knowledge. Moving forward, such decisions will be taken only after keeping me informed. Additionally, the secretary, industries, and the CEO of MIDC must provide me with regular updates on significant developments and pending cases.”
He further pointed out that while decentralisation of administrative powers had been implemented to streamline operations and ensure accessibility for public-facing roles, recent years had seen a re-centralisation of these powers. This, he argued, has led to unnecessary hardships for small and micro entrepreneurs, who are now required to travel to Mumbai for decisions that could have been made locally.
Samant reiterated that the Chief Minister’s repeated directives to speed up administrative processes and improve ease of doing business should be adhered to, and the decentralisation of powers should be reinstated.
In his letter, Samant also took issue with the MIDC’s recent decision to make cuts to approved infrastructure projects. He instructed that these cuts be reversed and that the relevant files be submitted to him for a final decision. “As an industry-friendly state, it is crucial to develop infrastructure in the industrial sector to attract investment to Maharashtra. The decision to make cuts in previously approved development works should be cancelled and brought to me for review,” he wrote.
Speaking to the media, Samant said the letter was not a sign of displeasure, but rather a necessary step to ensure the smooth functioning of his department and uphold the state’s commitment to industrial growth and ease of doing business.