Besides the Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2020, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday also passed ‘The Right to Business Bill, 2020’, and ‘The Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020’ (replacing ordinance).

The Right to Business Bill, to facilitate business for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), is aimed at easing the regulatory burden on newly incorporated MSMEs by providing enabling provision of self-declaration, besides exemption from certain approvals and inspections for establishment and operations of MSMEs in Punjab.

With this, the MSMEs in the State will get a big relief from the tedious process of getting regulatory approvals before setting up of the units.

It would encompass various regulatory services, including sanction of building plans, issuance of completion or occupation certificate for buildings, registration of new trade license under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, and the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976, sanction of building plans, among others.

With this, a District Bureau of Enterprise (DBE) would be established in each district, headed by the Deputy Commissioner as chief executive officer, while General Manager of the District Industries Centre (DIC) would act as the Additional Chief Executive Officer, with other members to be notified by the Government from time-to-time.

The DBE shall be designated as District Level Nodal Agency, which would work under the overall superintendence, direction and control of the State Government and the State Nodal Agency.

The District Level Nodal Agency will assist and facilitate MSME enterprises in the State, maintain record of ‘Declaration of Intent’ received and issue ‘certificate of In Principle Approval’ under the Act.