Theboard of approval (BoA) on special economic zones (SEZ) has decided to meet on July 12 to take up 20 proposals, including three from West Bengal, which were deferred in earlier meetings.
Out of the three proposals from West Bengal, only one ?80.33 hectare IT SEZ at Shantiniketan by Shantiniketan Infrastructure Pvt Ltd ? has the required land in their possession. The proposal was earlier deferred. The other two proposals, which are not backed by required possession of land are Indian Foundry Association?s 101-hectare foundry SEZ in Howrah and Videocon Realty and Infrastructures Ltd?s the 24-hectare biotech, food processing and floriculture SEZ at Siliguri. Both these proposals were deferred in the October 6 BoA meeting.
Among the main proposals, which would be looked at in the BoA meeting are the 810-hectare IT/ITES SEZ by the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd near the Indore airport. Though this proposal was earlier deferred in the October 6 meet last year, the developers now possess the required land. The BoA will take up 6 new proposals and 14 deferred ones.
Out of the 46 proposal, which are being considered in the upcoming meeting on June 22, only one proposal is from West Bengal?the 1012-hectare multi-product SEZ at Midnapur by Ramky Infrastructure Ltd. This proposal, deferred during the October 27 BoA meeting, still does not have the required land in their possession.
Of the 100 SEZ projects notified on May, there is only one from West Bengal, a 48.5 hectare IT/ITES SEZ by M L Dalmiya and Co. The state has been witnessing protests in Nandigram against alleged forcible land acquisition for SEZ projects. Of the 234 proposals granted formal approval (with land possession), only 7 are from West Bengal, while among the 160 proposals with in-principle approval (without possession of land), there are 12 from the state.