Lucknow, June 15 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government Friday warned officials to clear within a fortnight applications pending under the Nivesh Mitra scheme, a web-based single-window clearance system to facilitate investment in the state, or face strict action.

Over 1,500 applications are overdue according to the deadline specified under Nivesh Mitra, which covers 45 districts and 12 government departments and offers facilities like online submission of as many as 35 application forms, status monitoring and online payment of fees by investors.

The warning came from Industrial and Investment Development Commissioner (IIDC) Anil Kumar Gupta, who said that strict action would be taken against officials if they failed to clear applications in 15 days, as the chief secretary would himself review the approval process required to set up business in the state.

Gupta also directed the Nivesh Mitra nodal officers to study the possibilities of minimising the number of forms required to be submitted by entrepreneurs for starting new industrial units and expanding existing ones.

He told the departments concerned to come up with a short list of forms in a week's time.

The state government is keen to improve the ease of doing business in Uttar Pradesh. Hence, it is imperative to simplify procedures to that end, Gupta said.

The Industrial and Investment Development Commissioner added that the state government was actively working on the central government's eBiz Mission Mode Project to give a one-stop shop single-window clearance system to improve the investment scenario in the state.