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Punjab approves SEZ Act

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday gave approval for enacting the Punjab Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act by formulating a comprehensive SEZ policy to promote mega and super mega industrial projects.

A decision to this effect was taken here on Wednesday at a high-level meeting chaired by Mr. Badal here, said an official release here.

Mr. Badal directed the Chief Secretary to look into the comments given by the departments of Revenue and Rehabilitation, Local Government, Housing and Urban Development and Power, besides the Punjab Pollution Control Board, before the finalisation of the Act.

Mr. Badal underscored the need to promote industrialisation in the State in a big way as the State’s agrarian economy had reached a point of saturation. “Setting up SEZs will give a fillip to industry besides generating employment opportunities for our unemployed youth,” he said.

It was stated in the meeting that the Centre has so far given in-principle approval to 8 SEZs and formal approval to 7.

Two SEZs in Mohali -- of Quarkcity India Pvt. Ltd in IT and Ranbaxy Laboratories in pharma -- developed over 13.75 and 32 hectares, respectively, had been notified by the Centre.

These SEZs with an investment of nearly Rs 10,000 crore will give direct jobs to about 2.75 lakh persons.

These eight SEZs that had been given in-principle approval include four of DLF Universal Ltd for establishing multi-products SEZs in Amritsar (440 hectares), one of DLF Universal Ltd for a multi-product SEZ in Ludhiana (1,011 hectares), and one of Rockman projects for an SEZ in textiles in Ludhiana (100 hectares).

The others are those of Malhotra Land Developers & Colonizers in Engineering at Ludhiana (121.41 hectares) and Ishan Developers Pvt. Ltd in textile at Khasa in Amritsar district (100 hectares).

The SEZs accorded formal approval by the Centre include those of Vividha Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd in engineering at Rajpura (100 hectares), Mridul Infrastructure in textiles in Rajpura (100 hectares), and Sukhmani Towers Pvt. Ltd. in Derabassi (14 hectares)

Others are those of Lark Projects Pvt Ltd in IT at Landran in Mohali district, Sukhm Infrastructure Pvt Ltd in IT as SAS Nagar Mohali (11.62 hectares), ATS Estate Pvt Ltd in IT in Derabassi (12 hectares), and Shipra Estate Ltd in IT in Derabassi (20.24 hectares).

Another SEZ to be promoted by A-Tech IT City (Mohali) in IT over 57.89 hectares worth Rs 205 crore with a potential of 10,000 jobs was still awaiting approval from the Centre.

Mr. Badal said, “SEZs should be encouraged in the State so that Punjab could complete globally in terms of industry as well as manufacturing activities and this could only be feasible if we grant liberal incentives and concessions to the prospective SEZ developers.”

Industry Minister Manoranjan Kalia said that the State Government should make concerted efforts to identify unproductive land to develop land banks so that this land could be viably utilised for mega industrial and housing projects. -- PTI

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