Kakinada: Land losers of SEZs are likely to get additional benefits such as jobs and also shares in the industrial units that come up in addition to the relief package, according to Union Minister of State for Defence M. M. Pallamraju.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, he said it was the opinion of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the SEZs should pave the way for inclusive growth providing for additional benefits to land losers and plans were under way to put the concept into practice.

In this context, he cited how Reliance had shown the way by providing jobs to locals in Kerala.

The SEZ at Kakinada, he said, was being expedited in the direction of securing the required clearance.

On the fate of the proposed ONGC refinery in the SEZ, Mr. Pallamraju said it was not shelved but certain technical feasibility studies were yet to be completed.

He said the Union Minister had categorically assured on the floor of Parliament that the ONGC refinery would be set up at Kakinada soon.

After the Minister's assurance, he said, the ONGC chairman had personally called on him and explained that fresh technical feasibility survey was in progress for having a 15 mt capacity instead of the 7.5 mt capacity originally proposed, as it is not viable in the present scenario.

Mr. Pallamraju hoped that the technical feasibility survey would be completed within two or three months.

Infrastructure

Being the chairman of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), he said, he would tour the north-eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur from Wednesday to discuss with Chief Ministers infrastructure development such as roads and bridges.

Mr. Pallamraju said the Rs.12,400-crore Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) was cleared by the Government for improving roads and bridges in the North-East besides Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the Centre had lifted the ban on recruitment especially for the Border Roads Organisation.

When asked whether similar aid would be given for laying roads in Maoist-infested areas in the State, the Minister said such request would be considered if the State Government came out with specific proposals.

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