Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Deccan Herald News Service

Bangalore, June 25, 2007: The State Cabinet steamrolled opposition from two government departments and as many government agencies while clearing the proposal by SKIL Infrastructure Limited for establishing a multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Nandagudi near here.

The first agency to oppose the SEZ proposal was the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA).

In a letter dated March 5, 2007, to the Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department (I&C), BMRDA Commissioner Sudhir Krishna pointed out that SKIL intended to establish SEZs at Nandagudi, Solur and Ramanagara, while the government, in its order dated October 18, 2006, had already cleared development of new integrated townships in some of the villages proposed for the SEZ.

Besides, the three villages which the project promoter intended to include under the Ramanagara SEZ, came under the Bidadi Integrated Township. The government has already selected a private agency, through open global tenders, for setting up the Bidai township.

Work on four more townships was to be taken up soon. Therefore, it is not advisable to give permission for SKIL to establish the SEZs, Mr Krishna reasoned.

Integrated township
Urban Development Department Under Secretary M S Premchandra, in his letter to the Principal Secretary, I&C, said that as the BMRDA had already planned integrated townships at Nandagudi, Solur and Ramangara, it would not be proper to have SEZs at the same places.

Besides, Revenue Department Principal Secretary S M Jaamdar, in his letter to the Principal Secretary, I&C, said lands in and around Bangalore are prime lands. It would not be possible for the Revenue Department to give such a vast extent of government lands on lease basis to SKIL for the establishment of SEZs at Nandagudi, Solur and Ramangara.

In a letter to the Managing Director, Karnataka Udyog Mitra, BWSSB Chairman Muniyappa stated, “SKIL has not made any mention about water supply and sanitary facilities in the list of assistance to be made by government. The proposed project is coming up in Bangalore Rural district at Nandagudi which is located 35 km away from the jurisdictional limits of BWSSB.”
Congress leader H K Patil on Sunday released copies of these letters to the media.