Anil Ambani seeks faster, transparent decision making

Blaming slow decision-making for "obstacles" faced by businesses, industrialist Anil Ambani today pitched for a system that promotes fast action by government officials without fear of agencies like CVC, CBI and CAG.

"Being a large investor in mobile, we've faced over last many years a number of obstacles in decision-making where speed of decision-making has been very poor," Ambani said at the 'Mumbai Next' event organised here by the Government of Maharashtra.

Addressing Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was interacting with industry leaders at the event, Ambani said: "I think you will have to come up with a system whereby decision making and speed of decision making is valued, officials and team players are protected from CVC, CBI and CAG."

He clarified however that he was not asking for non- transparent decision making.

Citing his interactions with government officials, the chief of diversified Reliance Group said that quick decision making usually "raises eyebrows" and brings them under the scanner of agencies like the CBI, CVC and CAG.

Ambani quoted the government officials as saying that "the best thing for us to do is not to take decisions because then we're protected".

Ambani said the Coal ordinance introduced by the Centre insulates officials taking decisions in the upcoming auctions from scrutiny from the feared law enforcing agencies.

"You'll see the recent coal ordinance where all officials who all are involved in the coal auction process have been protected from any further legal scrutiny and criminal scrutiny in future," he said.

Replying to the comments, Fadnavis promised full help, saying he will "ring fence" the officials.

"I feel if the initial processes are transparent, then if you take a quick decision, it cannot be questioned. Its only at the time of initial decision making if you start to pick and choose, then finally you end up in a soup," the CM said.