After two years, Punjab's green stamp paper initiative remains mostly ‘on paper' in Ludhiana
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann introduced the green colour-coded stamp paper system in 2022, claiming it would cut red tape significantly for industrialists by guaranteeing all necessary clearances within two weeks. The stamp paper was meant to serve as a one-stop approval document, bundling permissions from departments including town planning (CLU), forest, fire, and pollution control authorities.
However, officials now admit the scheme has seen limited success on the ground. According to sources in the district administration, only a handful of green stamp paper registries have been completed in Ludhiana since its inception. One major reason, they say, is that a large portion of the city's industrial sector falls under the 'hazardous industry' category — an area not eligible for the green stamp paper process.
The initiative was originally designed to offer industrialists land feasibility assessments before registration. Applicants were to apply via the Invest Punjab portal or in person, with the CLU team delivering clearances within ten days. Upon clearance, they would be issued a green stamp paper incorporating all required departmental approvals.
But industry leaders say the system is bogged down by duplication. "Even after using green stamp paper, industrialists often have to reapply for approvals and pay the same fees again," said Ashpreet Singh, former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Ludhiana chapter. "This defeats the purpose of a streamlined clearance process." He added that the business community had recommended integrating the green stamp paper model with Punjab's Right to Business Act, introduced in 2021. That act allows provisional clearance from four departments, giving industries up to 3.5 years to secure full approvals post setup.
A senior govt official confirmed the integration proposal is under consideration. "We are actively reviewing this suggestion, and a formal proposal has been submitted to the relevant department," the official said. While the green stamp paper scheme aimed to be a game-changer in simplifying industrial development, its future may now depend on whether it can be restructured to overcome bureaucratic hurdles — and gain the trust of the business community it was designed to help.
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Biodiversity leadership positions India as a global model, expanding protected areas to 35% by 2035 and leading Kunming-Montreal Framework initiatives. Sharp insights: Renewables will cut energy imports by 50%, fostering abundance; circularity in agriculture (e.g., bio-CNG) boosts farmer incomes 30%; net zero pathways, per India's LT-LEDS (2022), require $10 trillion investments, catalysed by climate finance taxonomy (DEA 2025). Economic and political implications Economically, the doctrine promises 8%+ annual growth, diversifying from Nehru's PSU reliance to private-led innovation. Politically, it demands federal consensus for trade zones and data sharing, potentially straining centre-state relations but enhancing equity via DPI. AI disruptions risk unemployment, necessitating universal basic services; soft power via Ayurveda could yield $50 billion exports. Challenges include funding (6% R&D requires public-private partnerships) and geopolitics (quantum defence amid US-China tensions). Success hinges on deregulation, echoing 1991, to avoid Nehru-era stagnation. The Shailesh Haribhakti Doctrine transcends the Nehru model's pitfalls, forging a path to sustainable abundance. By 2035, India could lead in renewables, biodiversity, and tech convergence, achieving net zero milestones en route to 2070. This requires bold political will, but the rewards—equitable prosperity and global stature—are profound. As Panagariya notes, progress demands unlearning old models; this doctrine provides the blueprint. References Panagariya, Arvind (2024). The Nehru Development Model. Columbia University Press. Government of India (2022). India's Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy. MoEFCC. NITI Aayog (2023). India Energy Security Scenarios 2047. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (2024). Renewable Energy Roadmap. MNRE. Press Information Bureau (2024). 'Year-End Review: Environment and Climate Change.' PIB. Department of Economic Affairs (2025). Framework of India's Climate Finance Taxonomy. DEA. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
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