Raipur, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday chaired a cabinet meeting that approved crucial amendments to the Industrial Development Policy 2024–30 to streamline investment and accelerate industrial growth. The revisions address inconsistencies regarding publicity, expert appointments, and service activity certification to ensure a transparent and investor-friendly framework in the state.
Officials stated the policy shift aims to promote sustainable employment and attract high-quality investments. Alongside industrial reforms, the cabinet took several decisions focused on forest-based livelihoods and financial restructuring.
The state government has cleared a guarantee for loans to be availed in 2026 for procuring tendupatta at ₹5,500 per standard bag. Additionally, the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation will receive working capital support for the procurement and processing of kodo, kutki, and ragi.
A one-time interest-free loan of ₹30 crore was also sanctioned to the federation for the value addition and marketing of non-nationalised minor forest produce. This move is intended to bolster the financial capacity of forest-dependent communities.
In a significant move towards fiscal discipline, the cabinet approved a budgetary provision of ₹55.69 crore to repay long-standing loan liabilities of the Chhattisgarh Rajya Antyavasayi Sahkari Vitt Evam Vikas Nigam. These loans were previously taken from five national corporations catering to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and backward classes.
The full repayment will eliminate an annual interest burden of ₹2.40 crore. Furthermore, the settlement will extinguish a government guarantee liability worth ₹229.91 crore, resulting in substantial long-term savings for the state exchequer.
To boost the rice milling sector, the incentive for usna rice milling has been doubled from ₹20 per quintal to ₹40 per quintal. The cabinet also reduced the minimum milling period required for this incentive from three months to two months. Stamp duty on bank guarantees for rice millers has been slashed from 0.25% to 0.05%.
The automobile sector also received a boost with a 50% rebate approved on lifetime road tax for vehicles purchased during the 9th Auto Expo in Raipur, scheduled from 20 January to 5 February. The concession will be available to dealers across the state at the time of registration.
On the administrative front, the cabinet approved the implementation of the Police Commissionerate System in the Raipur Metropolitan Police District, effective from 23 January. It also sanctioned the creation of an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) post at the Police Headquarters in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar at Pay Matrix Level-14.