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Karaikal to have a Special Economic Zone

Special Correspondent

All industries will be encouraged except polluting ones

Pondicherry: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy told the Assembly on Friday that the Union Territory Administration was mulling one more Special Economic Zone.

Assuring the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislator A. Anbalagan that the administration would leave no stone unturned to attract industrialists to set up units here to ensure jobs for the local youth, Mr. Rangasamy said that while the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) already sanctioned for Pondicherry would come up soon (at Karasur in Sedarapet block near Pondicherry). The Government was planning to have one more zone and it would be set up in Karaikal. Mr. Anbalagan sought to have his private member resolution on tax concessions for industries adopted in the House.

The SEZ would promote all types of industries to achieve fast industrialisation, Mr. Rangasamy said. Mr. Rangasamy, who asked Anbalagan not to insist on his resolution, also said that already around 7,654 industries were functioning in Pondicherry. It was the policy of the Government not to encourage chemical industries causing pollution and also the industries damaging sub-soil water. However, a number of entrepreneurs had evinced interest in establishing units with the SEZ being created here.

Mr. Anbalagan earlier contended that with the introduction of the uniform sales tax in Pondicherry, a number of industries had been closed and entrepreneurs had shifted their units from Pondicherry and Karaikal to Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal as those State Governments were extending several concessions and sops. He said that his resolution sought to urge the Centre to extend concessions to industries in the tsunami ravaged Pondicherry and Karaikal regions. With Chief Minister's assurance the AIADMK member withdrew his resolution.

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