Kutch industries request FSI increase for growth

The Federation of Kutch Industries Association (FOKIA) is asking the state government to make changes that will help industries in Kutch grow. They met with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to discuss issues related to land use and infrastructure. FOKIA wants to change regulations from the Comprehensive GDCR-2017. They suggested increasing the allowed height for industrial buildings and raising the Floor Space Index (FSI) from 1.2 to 2.25. This change would promote industrial expansion in the area. The association highlighted problems with land mutation, purchases, and approvals for converting agricultural land into industrial use. They stressed the need for quicker resolutions, especially when there are legal disputes. Issues with land taxation, particularly for salt production, were also addressed, with FOKIA requesting tax exemptions. Water supply is a major concern for industries, as Kutch continues to grow. FOKIA urged the government to speed up the building of a large desalination plant and improve the water distribution system. They also recommended laying down a new water pipeline along a major road. Additionally, FOKIA pointed out that Kutch has a significant amount of mining leases. They called for faster environmental clearance processes and suggested auctioning government-owned land for bauxite mining. The group proposed creating a monitoring cell to speed up project approvals. The Chief Minister listened carefully to the issues presented and promised to take action, particularly on environmental clearances. The delegation included several industry leaders who participated in this important meeting.