To help investors, the Mayawati government has dug out an old government order (GO) dated September 29, 2000, issued by the Ram Prakash Gupta government of the BJP, and ordered its implementation.

Issued by the then Chief Secretary Yogendra Narain, the order directed government officials at different levels to function as “escorts” for investors and facilitate setting up of projects.

The order had been gathering dust all these years until Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta reissued it on May 11, with directives for its effective implementation.

Copies of the order have been sent to principal secretaries, district magistrates and commissioners, besides officials of the Industrial Development Department (IDD).

The GO had clearly defined the responsibility of the escort officers.

“The objective behind the order was to facilitate investors and fix accountability of officials for ensuring investments. The escort officer is supposed to help the investors not only when any problem crops up, but procure sanctions from all the concerned departments. The order stated that the duty of an escort officer would be considered accomplished only after the industrial unit, of which he was given the responsibility, began production,” a senior officer in the Department of Industries said.

The government had also fixed responsibilities of officers, who would operate as escorts, depending on the amount of investment. The district magistrates, for instance, were supposed to provide the escort service for investment from Rs 1 to 10 crore. The investments amounting above Rs 10 crore up to Rs 25 crore were assigned to additional or joint director of industries.

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