INDIAN STATE : MAHARASTRA

Grapes Processing Industry Policy 2001

Maharashtra is a leading state in production of Grapes in the whole country. In regards to agriculture land under grapes cultivation & grapes production, Nashik & Sangli districts are at forefront in the State. Apart from these, grapes are also grown in the districts of Ahmednagar, Pune, Satara, Solapur & Osmanabad. Nowadays, grapes are produced in Latur district of Marathwada also. However, Nashik and Sangli districts are ahead in the production of grapes in a scientific manner. The progressive farmers in these districts have also entered in the grapes exports and grapes processing sector. But, major grapes are produced for eating purposes and limited quantity is utilized for the production of liquor, dry fruits like raisins, etc. However, as grapes are of perishable nature, many times when the production of grapes is much more and sufficient domestic market is not available for sale of grapes, farmers have to sustain heavy financial losses. Further, as process of grapes production basically requires major capital investment, if sale or exports of grapes is not possible in time, farmers do suffer a lot. In these circumstances it was under consideration of government to declare a independent policy to encourage the grapes growers to produce more beneficial alternative products from grapes, other than the dry fruits and table grapes.

Full text of the policy

Investment Incentives

Investment Incentives as under Industrial Policy 2001

• A number of incentives such as exemption from payment of electricity duty, stamp duty, registration fees, refund of octroi duty, entry tax is offered to all the New industrial units being established in the backward areas of the state.
  
• Special capital incentives (grants) are offered for setting up Small-scale industries (SSI's) in backward units.
  
• Interest subsidy is also offered to new textile, hosiery and knitwear SSI units.
  
• Khadi and village industries are exempted from the payment of sales tax.
  
• Minimum floor rate of sales tax and no return over tax on IT products
  
• Stamp duty exemption to industries being set up in backward areas Establishment of IT/BT Units on textiles mills in Greater Mumbai.
  
• Setting up of Special Economic Zones

Investment Incentives as under Biotechnology Policy 2001

• Exemption in stamp duty, permissive for captive power generation
  
• Electricity duty exemption, Octroi refund
  
• Special capital incentives according to the provisions of the " Package Scheme of Incentives (PSI) 2001 " are awarded to the biotechnology units.

Investment Incentives as under Information Technology Policy 2003

Fiscal

• 100% Stamp Duty exemption in Public IT Parks ; 75% in Private IT Parks
  
• 100% exemption from payment of Electricity Duty
  
• Exemption from payment of Octroi / Entry Taxes
  
• Double FSI (FAR) for units built in IT Parks
  
• Lower Property Taxes - same as Residential rates
  
• Minimal Sales Tax rates on locally procured Capital goods
  
• Power supply at 'Industrial rates'

Non-Fiscal

• Permission for 24x7 working hours
  
• No restrictions on employing women workers at late hours
  
• Relaxation of Labour laws and statutory returns thereon
  
• BPO units treated as 'Essential Services' & 'Continuous Process' units
  
• Unlimited captive & backup power generation permitted
  
• Permission for IT units in IT Parks to be 'Independent Power Producers'
  
• Data Protection & Consumer Privacy Act

Key benefits of 100% Export Oriented Units (EOU) scheme of STPI

• No Customs Duty on imports of Capital goods & Consumables
  
• Excise Duty & Central Sales Tax exemption on all locally procured items
  
• 'Net Forex earnings' requirement
  
• 100% Tax exemption till the financial year 2009-10
  

Industrial Parks and Centres

Special Economic Zones

Self Governing Industrial Townships

• Vile Bhagad ( Raigad)
  
• Talegaon Dabhade ( Pune)
  
• Shendra ( Aurangabad)
  
• Nandgaon Peth ( Amravati)
  
• Tadali ( Chandrapur)
  
• Additional Sinnar ( Nashik)
  
• Waluj ( Aurangabad)
  
• Nanded
  
• Osmanabad
  
• Airoli ( Navi Mumbai)
  
• Hinjawadi ( Pune)
  
• Additional Latur
  
• Butibori ( Nagpur)
  
• Nardhana ( Dhule)
  

Agro Export Zones

• Nashik
  
• Solapur
  
• Satara
  
• Pune
  
• Sangli
  
• Ahmednagar
  
• Grape Wine Park: Winchur (Nashik)
  
• Palus (Sangli)
  
• Food Park: Alkud - Manerajuri (Sangli)
  
• Floriculture Park - Talegaon (Pune)
  
• Orange City Park -Nagpur
  

Other initiatives of the Maharashtra Government include Floriculture Park, Food Silver Zone, and Textile Park etc.

Useful Weblinks

• Government of Maharashtra
  
• Maharashtra IT Parks