Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Hyderabad, November 13, 2007: The Government has acquired only 0.05 per cent of crop area in the State for 45 SEZs notified so far in the State, Major Industries Minister J. Geetha Reddy informed the Legislative Council on Monday.

She told the House during question hour that 17,031 acres of 312 lakh acres of crop area was acquired for the SEZs. The acquisition included 11,298 acres of dry land. Ms. Reddy also said 27 industries had started construction in 13 SEZs across the State.

The units were expected to commence operations within three years . She was responding to a question by Dadi Veerabhadra Rao (TDP) who alleged 6,000 acres of agricultural land was acquired for a SEZ at Achutapuram in Visakhapatnam district. She denied that such a large extent of land was allotted there.

Source: The Hindu