Government approves 10 more special economic zones

Thursday, 28 February 2008, 01:09 IST
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New Delhi: The union government on Monday granted formal approval to 10 special economic zones (SEZs), including one of Videocon Reality and Infrastructure in West Bengal, a state that has experienced protests over SEZs. The go-ahead was given at a meeting of the Board of Approvals (BoA) of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, which is headed by Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai. The 22nd meeting of the BoA Monday took up 14 proposals for setting up a SEZ, of which 10 received the formal nod. Besides Videocon, the other "in-principle" approval that got a formal nod was an automobile SEZ by the State Industries Promotion Corp of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT). Two of Mahindra Worldcity (Jaipur) Ltd's SEZs coming up in Rajasthan for 103.11 and 104.35 hectares were also granted formal approval. Two IT-ITeS SEZs by Devbhumi Realtors Pvt Ltd in Andhra Pradesh and Anant Raj Industries Ltd in Haryana for 10.12 and 10 hectares received the formal nod by BoA. A 130-hectare SEZ developed by J.B. SEZ Pvt Ltd in Panoli in Gujarat for pharmaceuticals got approval along with Wardha Power Company Pvt Ltd's SEZ in Chandrapur district in Maharashtra. So far formal approvals have been granted for setting up of 439 SEZs out of which 201 have been notified, with an investment of 67,347 crore (673.47 billion), Pillai said. Direct employment of 97,478 persons has been generated in the new generation SEZs, which is in addition to the employment provided by the seven central government established SEZs, which is over 1.83 lakh (183,000) persons, he added.
Source: IANS