UP forwards 10 SEZ proposals to Centre

In pursuance of its policy to spur the industrial and economic growth and to attract investment in the state, Uttar Pradesh government's Empowered Committee on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) has forwarded ten proposals to the Centre for approvals for setting up of special economic zones (SEZs) in the state.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary PK Mishra to review and expedite the process of clearance to various SEZs proposals on merit according to the revised SEZ policy of the state.

Speaking on the occasion Atul Kumar Gupta, infrastructure and industrial development commissioner of the state government, said the state government revised its SEZ policy in the light of amendments made by the Centre regarding land issues.

Present SEZ provisions have attracted interest from investors and developers mostly in setting up of small SEZs in general and IT/ITeS specific SEZs in particular.

Out of the 10 proposals cleared by empowered committee today, eight are in IT/ITeS sector, including one to be developed by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) at Tronica City in Ghaziabad.

The SEZs which have been recommended for in-principle approval to the BoA include proposals by Wipro Ltd, Uppal Housing Ltd and Gallant Infrastructure Pvt Ltd at Greater Noida; Sarva Mangal Realtech Pvt Ltd and Jubilant Infracon Pvt Ltd at NOIDA.

Besides, two SEZs, one IT/ITeS SEZ and the other biotechnology SEZ, proposed to be set up at Lucknow by Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd have also been sent to the BoA. The state government has also recommended Jhujhunwala Vanaspati Ltd and Hari Fertilizers Ltd's multi-services SEZ with a 25-Mw captive power plant at Chandauli to the BoA.

Keeping in view the immense scope of exports, employment generation and expertise available in information technology in the state, committee forwarded a proposal on December 4 for setting up an IT/ITeS SEZ by UPSIDC (Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation) in Tronica City at Ghaziabad to the Board of Approval (BoA) for formal approval.