Board Of Approval For Special Economic Zones - Feb 24, 2009

The Board of Approval for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which was chaired by the Commerce Secretary, Mr G.K. Pillai, on Monday allowed the merger of three stand-alone SEZs, promoted by the Adani Group at Mundra in Gujarat. The combined zone will create India''s largest SEZ with an area of 6,100 hectares in Mundra making it the first zone to exceed the 5,000-hectare limit. However the nod was given to such a proposal by the empowered group of Ministers (eGoM) on SEZs headed by the Union Finance and External Affairs Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee

These three zones were situated next to each other include the two multi-product SEZs and a power-based zone. "The amalgamated zone is likely to see investments of over Rs 1,00,000 crore and employ over 500,000 people in the next 10 years," said a government official.

Mr Pillai while addressing the BoA meeting said that 560 formal approvals so far have been granted for setting up of SEZs out of which 286 have been notified as on date. The Board, which will meet again only in June after a new government is elected, also formally approved nine SEZs, including one being developed by a company promoted by Anand Jain, a close associate of Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of India''s largest private sector firm Reliance Industries Ltd.

Centre Sends SEZ Ball Back In Goa''s Court - June 4, 2008

The Centre has refused to denotify three special economic zones in Goa that had already been approved and notified.Last December, Goa decided to scrap SEZs after widespread protests.

In a letter to the state government, the Commerce Ministry says there''s no provision to denotify these SEZs and advises that the state hold discussions with the developers to reach an amicable settlement.Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has told NDTV that they will decide on the future course of action soon. Congress'' stand comes in contradiction to its earlier view wherein Sardinha had said that Goa can have two to three SEZs