Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Newindpress.com

New Delhi, June 23 2007: The proposed Controversial Nandagudi Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Hoskote, which is facing severe resistance from farmers whose lands will be acquired, suffered a setback.

The Board of Approval (BoA), the single window agency of the Centre for clearing SEZ projects, decided here on Friday to defer its decision on the proposed mega project.

It is learnt that the BoA which met under the chairmanship of G K Pillai has sought some clarifications from the both the promoter of the SEZ, Mumbai-based SKIL Infrastructure Limited and the State Government.

The SKIL Infrastructure Limited proposed to develop a multi-product Special Economic Zones in Nandagudi on 12,350 acres spreading over 36 villages.

Despite severe opposition from the farmers, the State Cabinet gave its nod recently and sent the proposal to the Centre.

However, sources said that the Centre raised some questions about the project and asked the both the State Government and promoter to come up with their reply, said a senior officer in the Union Ministry of Commerce.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Special Economic Zones had in its last meeting decided that the size of SEZ in any sector should not exceed 5000 hectares.

In the proposed Nandagudi multi-product Special Economic Zone , land is not yet in the possession of the developer, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Centre has informed all the states that for Special Economic Zones, the State Government should acquire land only when all the landowners gave their consent.

Land where double crops and multiple crops are being grown should also not be acquired.

Meanwhile, Board of Approval cleared two SEZ such as Aero Space Industries SEZ near Devanahalli International Airport promoted by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) and IT and IT enabled Special Economic Zone in Mysore.

The KIADB proposes to set up a SEZ in aerospace-related industries over an area of 200 hectares at Devanahalli near Bangalore, which was already cleared by the Karnataka government.

Another IT and IT Enabled Services (ITES) sector SEZ proposal from Tandon Holdings Private Limited at Koorgalli near Mysore was also cleared by the Central Government.