The Hindu : Front Page : Government issues orders on SEZs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Government issues orders on SEZs

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has issued orders giving effect to the Policy on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) approved by the State Cabinet at its meeting here on September 29.

The order would cover both the SEZs that have already been approved by the Centre and the 11 SEZ proposals forwarded to the Centre after the SEZ policy was approved. Apart from the salient points covered by the SEZ policy, the order stipulates that proposals involving holdings involving excess land would not be eligible for the benefits under the SEZ policy.

Since the order has been given retrospective effect, it would be applicable to the Smart City project, which has already received approval from the Central government. There is some confusion as to how the SEZ policy would affect the Smart City project, which was approved on the basis of different criteria with regard to utilisation of land area.

In the Government Order issued on Monday in keeping with the SEZ policy, 70 per cent of the land should be utilised for industrial purposes and only 30 per cent should be used for allied purposes, specifically to provide housing facilities for the employees.

Official sources told The Hindu that if at all there was any contradiction between the conditions relating to Smart City and the SEZ proposals awaiting clearance, the same would have to be considered separately.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page