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Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, has said that the proposal for setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Amritsar (Punjab) is likely to be approved soon. In a statement in the Lok Sabha this morning in response to a calling attention motion on “Situation arising out of non-setting up of a Special Economic Zone in Amritsar (Punjab) as announced by Prime Minister and steps taken by the government in this regard”, the Minister said that the proposal received from the Government of Punjab had already been recommended for grant of “in principle” approval, and once the specific product group of the proposed SEZ was identified by the State Government, the proposal would be processed for grant of necessary clearance.
The following is the full text of Shri Kamal Nath’s statement:
“The Prime Minister during his interaction with the State Government on his visit to Amritsar on 1/9/2004 had conveyed that the Government of India would extend all necessary help to the Government of Punjab to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Amritsar.
The policy of the Central Government is to encourage and facilitate Zones being set up in the private sector or joint sector in association with the State Government or by the State Governments themselves. The minimum area requirement for a multi-product SEZ is 1000 hectares and above. There is, however, no such area requirement for product specific or port/airport based SEZs.
The Government of Punjab was therefore requested to send a suitable proposal for consideration. In response, a proposal for setting up of a Special Economic Zone at Sri Harigobindpur Road (Mehta Road) adjoining the existing Industrial Focal Point in Amritsar by Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation Ltd. (PSIEC) was received in January 2005 through the State Government. This proposal was placed before the Board of Approval, which is an Inter-Ministerial Committee, for consideration in its meeting held in March 2005. During the Board meeting, the representative of the Government of Punjab indicated that since there is difficulty in obtaining 1000 hectares for setting up of a multi-product SEZ in Amritsar as land is fragmented and expensive, they now intend to set up a sector specific SEZ. Specific product group to be promoted by the zone is to be finalized by the implementing agency.
The proposal has been recommended for grant of “in-principle” approval. Once the Government of Punjab identifies the specific product group of the proposed SEZ, the proposal will be processed for grant of necessary approval”.
SB/SS/MRS
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