Jamshedpur: The Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA) has decided to strictly enforce a long-pending provision mandating building plan approval for industrial units, asking all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in notified areas to obtain clearances from JIADA.The directive, which officials said was part of the state’s industrial policy since 2017, will now be implemented fully. “The provision for building plan approval has existed for years. Our effort is to ensure its effective implementation,” JIADA regional director Prem Ranjan said on Friday.At present, factory operators secure building plan approvals from the department of factories. However, the department has made it compulsory to also obtain approval from JIADA. Officials clarified that the two approvals serve different purposes. “The department of factories approves plans from a safety perspective, while the industries department examines them in line with building construction norms and policy provisions,” Ranjan said.The issue came up during a meeting chaired by regional deputy director Dinesh Ranjan with industrial associations in the Adityapur Industrial Area on Thursday, where entrepreneurs were informed about the requirement.Industrialists, however, opposed the move, calling it redundant. “It is sheer duplication. Why should a factory operator spend additional time, energy and money to obtain approval for the same plan from two agencies?” asked Samir Singh, general secretary of Industrial Sustainability and Reform Organisation (ISRO).JIADA also directed units to install uniform signboards carrying key details and mandated green audits within a stipulated time frame. Monthly review meetings with industrial associations will now be held on the last Thursday of every month to address concerns and ensure compliance.