Nod to 6 new SEZ proposals

New Delhi, August 27

The government today approved six new proposals, including four from IT and ITeS sector, for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The decision was taken by the Board of Approval (BoA) for SEZ, chaired by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, a Commerce Ministry official said.

The proposals which got the approval include those of HCL IT City Lucknow, Loma IT Park Developer and North Mumbai International Commodity Township.

HCL IT City Lucknow and Loma IT Park Developer have proposed to set up IT/ITeS zones in Lucknow and Mumbai, respectively.

Besides, North Mumbai International Commodity Township has proposed a free trade warehousing zone in Thane.

The BoA has also approved the cancellation of three SEZ developers, including Emmar MGF Land and Hindustan Newsprint.

According to the agenda of the BoA meeting, Emmar MGF Land Ltd had secured a formal approval in June 2012 to set up an IT SEZ, but the developer has neither (put) any request for extension, nor any effort for development of the project.

Further, several developers have got more time to implement their respective projects, which are at different stages of implementation. As many as 22 had sought more time.

So far, formal approval has come for 416 proposals, of which 330 SEZs have been notified.

As many as 36 such zones are operational in Tamil Nadu, followed by Karnataka, Telangana (26) and Maharashtra (25).

SEZs account for about 25% of the country’s total exports. — PTI