Tatas set to get approval for SEZ in Orissa

The Tatas' ambitious special economic zone (SEZ) at Gopalpur in Orissa is likely to be cleared soon.

The Board of Approvals (BoA) for SEZs, which will meet after a three-month gap on January 10, is likely to clear the proposal for the Tatas' multi-product zone spread over 3,500 acres, according to sources. Sources said the proposal was likely to get the go-ahead as all clearances, including from security agencies, were in place.

The board had earlier referred the proposal to security agencies as the zone site was close to a security establishment. The Tatas plan to set up the SEZ on land they had earlier acquired for a steel plant. The group later decided to shelve the steel plant due to lack of proper infrastructure.

With the emergence of fresh opportunities in SEZs, the group wants to use the land for its forays into new areas. This is the only SEZ for which the Tatas have sought approval so far.

The BoA will take up 37 more proposals, mostly from Maharashtra, where the state government has acquired 150,000 acres for industrialisation. Despite stiff opposition from various political parties, including the Left, the Centre has approved 237 SEZs and given approval in principle for another 166.

The government has so far notified 58 such zones.