Setting up of the National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) across the country was announced by the Centre in 2013 as part of the National Manufacturing Policy, unveiled with an objective of enhancing the share of manufacturing sector in the GDP to at least 25 per cent within a decade, and creating 100 million jobs.
The NIMZs are envisaged as integrated industrial townships with state of the art infrastructure. The broad outline of the NIMZ includes land use on the basis of zoning, use of clean and energy efficient technology, creating necessary social infrastructure, setting up skill development facilities among others to provide a productive environment for persons transitioning from the primary to the secondary and tertiary sectors.
According to officials of the Industries Department, the National Manufacturing Policy is based on the principle of spurring industrial growth in association with State Governments. The Centre would provide incentives for infrastructure development.
The policy specifies that the Centre would bear the cost of master planning for the NIMZ and provide/improve external physical infrastructure linkages including rail, road (national highways), ports, airports, and telecom in a time-bound manner. The infrastructure would be created through PPP and the Centre would also extend viability gap funding through existing schemes.
The NIMZ proposed in Zaheerabad area of Medak district is expected to have transforming impact on the socio-economic conditions of the otherwise drought-prone area with most of the agricultural activity being rain-fed with some area cultivated under open/tube wells and a few minor irrigation sources.
Announcement of NIMZ itself has generated a lot of debate in the area already, mostly about escalation in the land rates as people depend on Hyderabad for most of their employment, education and health needs. “Lands are already being sold at Rs. 5 to 6 lakh per acre. Once established, we believe, the NIMZ will change the face of our area,” says Ramu of Itikepally village said.
