Chandigarh, March 25 -- The council of ministers on Tuesday approved amendments in the Industrial Licensing Policy of October 2015 providing a certain relief on levy of external development charges and facilitating more efficient utilisation of land in transport and communication sectors.

An official spokesperson said the amendments were introduced in response to long-pending industry demands, including representations from stakeholders such as NAREDCO, and are aimed at bringing clarity, consistency, and parity with decisions taken in other sectoral policies such as the textile policy.

The spokesperson said a key decision related to the rationalisation of External Development Charges (EDC) in agriculture zones. It has been approved that...