Nirmala Sitharaman writes to State Governments to ease boiler inspections

New Delhi, 2 June, 2014

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman sent a letter to all State Chief Ministers requesting “to implement the self -certification scheme for inspection & certification of boilers and boiler components” in their respective states under the provisions of the Boilers Act, 1923(Act).

In the communication sent to the State CMs, Smt. Sitharaman stated the keenness “of the Government of India to radically improve the ease of doing business” in the country. “Towards this end, it is our view that self certification and third party certification needs to be introduced in Boiler,” she wrote.

In the letter, Smt. Sitharaman mentioned that Gujarat has introduced a “Self-Certification-cum-Consolidated Annual Return” scheme which seeks to minimize unnecessary harassment to industrial establishments while ensuring a more effective system for compliance with labour laws. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh ahs also “also eased inspection of boilers of less than 1000 sq.m. heating area,” she wrote.

Boiler is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India and that the administration of the Boilers Act, 1923(Act) which is a central Act is being carried out by the Inspectorate of Boilers of the states in their respective territories.