SEZs turning real estate rackets in UP, says Jairam Ramesh

Even before the promised proposal of a leather special economic zone (SEZ) in Agra could be realised, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has expressed apprehensions about such SEZs becoming "real estate rackets" in Uttar Pradesh.

Voicing concerns at the lack of a constructive approach among industrialists of UP at the 58th foundation day function of the National Chamber of Industries and Commerce (NCIC), UP, in Agra on Sunday, Ramesh said instead of offering a helping hand to the government for developing their own state, the industrialists of UP were busy shifting their businesses to other states.

Presenting two case studies of the SEZs established in Noida and Moradabad, the minister said the central government had launched the SEZ scheme to benefit the industries of economically laggard states but it was being seen that in the absence of will power on the part of the state governments to wield control over the SEZs, these had become "real estate rackets".

He said the central government was ready to give its approval for the SEZ in Agra but the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) had failed to turn up with a proposal for the SEZ till date.

He said instead of confining the leather export industry to just an SEZ, the industrialists should strive for developing a leather special zone on the lines of Andhra Pradesh.