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Single window system a pipe dream [Hubballi] [Times of India](Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) HUBBALLI: Just a little over two months ago, techies were keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that North Karnataka would become the next big hub in the IT sector with Hubbali as its nerve centre. After all, son of the soil and IT-BT minister SR Patil had himself assured them at an IT-E conference on August 25 that he would simplify and hasten the procedure of getting clearance for IT projects in the region by putting in place a single window system. But that, it turns, out was a tall promise. The state government has done nothing to even get the ball rolling on the assurance, a task force comprising local businessmen set up soon after the conference has found. Vasant Ladawa, president of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says many entrepreneurs are struggling to get a piece of the IT pie. "At present, it takes about four months to get proposals approved by the IT department," he points out. He is, however, still hopeful that the state government will soon take baby steps towards making Hubbali an IT hub. Anand Naik, managing director of Bored Bees Tech Solutions who was in charge of media relations during the IT-E conference, claims that neither has any official from the IT department been deputed to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad nor has the state government made an official proposal on setting up a single window system for clearances. "IT players in the North Karnataka region face many hurdles to run their companies. The current scenario for the IT sector in Hubballi is not uplifting at all." Young entrepreneur Vijay Matti, who had at the conference suggested a single window system for the region, explains that applicants have to rush to Bengaluru each time the IT-BT department demands a document or a fresh proposal. "The department should have a local unit for such processes. We can't go to Bengaluru each time a clarification is needed." Matti claims that such cumbersome procedures are making new IT players shy away from the region. He recalled that IT-BT department director Tanusree Deb Barma had pointed it out that the single window system had been put in place in the city before 2006 and taken off due to poor response. "But, she had assured that she would have the system back in place soon based on the number of applications from IT players." Hubballi IT Park manager Ramalingappa, however, paints a more upbeat picture. He claims that there is no delay in getting clearances and that IT-BT department disposes of proposals in just 15 days. All that remains then is the approval of the empowering committee that consists of the IIIT director, Keonics MD and the IT-BT director, he explains. "The committee meets in once in three months and disposes of proposals in Bengaluru. It has decided to hold the next meeting at Hubli." (c) 2014 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited |