The government today decided to relax licensing norms for location of industrial units in sub-urban limits of big cities.

The decision to delete rules governing locations under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act 1951 was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet.

Earlier, the industries other than non-polluting electronics, computer software and printing were not allowed to be located within 25 km from the periphery of cities above population of one million.

"Since grant of industrial license is on the basis of recommendations of the state government and clearances from the State Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment and Forests, the existing procedure

of granting license can be dispensed with," Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Das Munsi told reporters after the meeting.

He said the location policy, which was notified in 1991 under the IDR Act amounted to "unnecessary hurdle" in setting up of industries.