Guwahati, July 10 (KNN) Following public protests across the state against an ordinance to facilitate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) approved by the Assam Cabinet on June 29, 2020, the government said that it will modify the rules and no exemption would be given for setting up industries on agricultural land.

Addressing a press conference here,on Thursday, Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal held a special meeting on the backdrop of protests against the ordinance and decided to modify it.

"Earlier there was a provision that after getting the 'Acknowledgement Certificate', agricultural land was proposed to be deemed converted for non-agriculture purposes to set up an industry. But now, it is proposed that so far land is concerned, no such exemption will be given. The business enterprises will have to take all the permission, clearance and approval related to land before starting any industry," he added.

"After detailed discussion, it was unanimously decided that stringent measures and provisions should be made so that the right of the indigenous people over their land is protected and kept unaffected.

"Accordingly, a provision has been proposed to be made in the draft MSME Ordinance that all the provisions of the Assam Agricultural Land (Regulation of Reclassification and Transfer for Non-Agricultural Purpose) Act, 2015 and other land laws will have to be followed and adhered to for setting up of any enterprise and no exemption will be given under the aforesaid Act or any land-related Act for any business initiative or business enterprise," he added.

On June 29, the state government approved the 'Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Ordinance, 2020', putting an end to the process of taking multiple permissions for MSMEs for three years.

Any person, who intends to start an enterprise, may furnish a self-declaration with an undertaking to follow all Acts and rules, according to a provision of the ordinance.

This led to widespread protests by the opposition Congress, All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), tribal groups.