The Gazetteers Department

The work of the Directorate of Industries is mainly confined to the development and progress of cottage, small-scale and large-scale industries in the State. The Directorate of Industries, which in the early years worked in an advisory capacity is now having a more positive role in the matter of industrialisation. Consequently, the work has progressively become both extensive in scope and diverse in function.

Structure.

The Industries Commissioner, Bombay heads the Directorate of Industries. He is also the Central Stores Purchasing Officer and the Controller of Weights and Measures. The Deputy Director of Industries, Bombay Region, who is the Regional Head works directly under the Industries Commissioner. The Collectors of the districts have been declared as the ex-officio Deputy Commissioners of Industries and the Industries Officer of the district is attached to the collectorate. The Regional heads act as Technical Advisers and pay greater attention to the developmental aspect and advise the prospective entrepreneurs in regard to the problems faced by them. The Industries Officers have to work in close collaboration with the Regional Officer in respect of common matters and functions. The Industries Officer, Dhulia is assisted in his work by three Junior Industries Inspectors stationed at Dhulia, Dondaicha and Nandurbar.

Functions.

The main functions of the Directorate of Industries pertain to Large-scale Industries, Small-scale Industries and Cottage Industries. They are as under:-

(a) Large-scale Industries.-(i) to process applications for industrial licences under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, as amended and to make suitable recommendations to Government of India,

(ii) to advise parties on formalities and technical matters,

(iii) to assist parties in securing land, water, power, transport facilities, etc.,

(iv) to offer laboratory facilities for analysis of raw materials, finished products, etc., and

(v) to promote industrial research by means of research grants;

(b) Small-scale Industries.-(i) to assist parties in securing land, water, power and transport facilities, etc.,

(ii) to develop suitable sites in the industrial estates so as to offer to the small entrepreneurs ready-built work sheds with power and water arrangements and with community facilities like post office, canteens, etc. on co-operative basis in suitable cases,

(iii) to grant financial assistance by way of loans under the State-Aid to Industries Rules and subsidy on power supply and to sponsor grant of such assistance by institutions like State Bank of India. Maharashtra State Financial Corporation, the National Small Industries Corporation and Maharashtra State Small Industries Development Corporation for hire purchase of machinery,

(iv) to assist parties in securing imported raw materials and controlled indigenous materials,

(v) to assist parties in marketing products by registration with Central Stores Purchase Organisation, Director General of Supplies and Disposals, National Small Industries Corporation and by persuading them to join the Quality Marketing Scheme,

(vi) to collect quarterly statistics of production and labour, and

(vii) to advice parties on formalities and technical matters;

(c) Cottage Industries.-(i) to grant financial assistance exceeding Rs. 3,000 and upto Rs. 5,000 under the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Act, 1960 and Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Rules, 1961 to artisans and for formation of their industrial co-operatives, and

(ii) to encourage the industries by marginal preferences in State Purchase Programme.

The Directorate also performs certain miscellaneous functions such as (i) central purchase of stores required by Government departments and institutions and (ii) enforcement of the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958. The Industries Officer of the district acts as the Inspector of Weights and Measures and as such pays surprise visits for ensuring the implementation of the Act.

With the formation of the Zilla Parishad from 1st May 1962, the following functions of the Directorate have been transferred to that organisation:-

(i) to grant financial assistance upto Rs. 3,000 under the Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Act, 1960 and Maharashtra State Aid to Industries Rules, 1961 and under Bona fide Craftsmen and Backward Class Artisans and Educated un-employed Schemes, and

(ii) to organise training-cum-production centres.

Industries Inspectors.

The duties assigned to the former Inspectors of Weights and Measures under the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Rules are now carried out by the Industries Inspectors. The main purpose of the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act is to provide for the adoption and compulsory use of standard weights and measures in the State. No weights or measures or weighing or measuring instruments may be sold, or delivered or used for trade, unless they have been verified or re-verified in the manner prescribed by the rules made under the said Act and stamped by an Inspector with a stamp of verification. It is the duty of the Inspectors to carry out verification and stamping and to collect the fees.

Weights and Measures Acts.

The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956, has established the standard weights and measures based on metric system in India. The then Government of Bombay, enacted the complementary legislation, viz. the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958 for the enforcement of the standard weights and measures based on metric system in the State and framed necessary rules thereunder.

Collection of Statistics.

The Industries Inspectors have to carry out duties in connection with the collection of statistics from scheduled industries coming under the First Schedule of Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. employing 10-49 workers. The Government of India have delegated the powers for collecting quarterly production statistics from such units under the Industrial Undertakings (Collection of Information and Statistics) Rules, 1959. The units are required to furnish quarterly statistical returns in the prescribed proforma. The Inspectors have to ensure that the factories concerned maintain proper accounts and registers and have to render assistance in completing the returns. They have also to attend to the work connected with the conduct of ad hoc surveys of various small-scale industries at the instance of State and Central Governments. Besides they have to carry out duties in connection with the registration of small-scale industrial undertakings in order to have correct picture of various small-scale industries in the State.

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