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SEZ work in full swing

BERHAMPUR: Ground work is in full swing in Ganjam district for the establishment of the proposed first SEZ in India with Russian collaboration.

Russian Premier Viktor Zubkov had also shown interest in the project during the recent visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Russia. The proposed project would also be country’s first titanium-based SEZ. It was also seen as a catalyst to boost bilateral ties between India and Russia. Saraf Agencies Private Limited of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Russian State-run agencies for the proposed SEZ that would process titanium from ‘ilmenite’ ore. The project was expected to be established with an investment of over Rs. 1,200 crores. The proposed SEZ would be set up in an extent of over 550 acres near the Gopalpur port in Chatrapur subdivision of Ganjam district. The main plant would come up on 250 acres and the land for this had already been identified.

Speaking to The Hindu, Chatrapur Sub-Collector Ajit Mishra said land acquisition process for the plant site land was in full swing. More than 75 per cent of the land had been already acquired. The rest would be acquired soon. It was taking time as it involved displacement of some dalit families who had to be provided proper compensation and land as rehabilitation package. He felt that there would not be much problem in land acquirement for the project as there was little agricultural land in this coastal sandy patch. It was felt that once the land for the plant site was acquired, the work on the project could be started. The project would get its ilmenite ore from the Orissa Sands Complex (OSCOM), an unit of Indian Rare Earths Ltd, located near the site of the proposed SEZ.

Allied industries like paints and pharmaceuticals were expected to set up base in this SEZ so that they could get easy access to titanium.

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