New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) The union government Wednesday cleared 28 proposals to set up special economic zones (SEZs) in the country.
The Board of Approval of SEZs, chaired by commerce secretary G.K. Pillai, granted formal approval to 24 proposals and gave in-principle approval to four more. In-principle approvals entail answering queries that could range from land acquisition to quantum of investment.
The formal approvals included a proposal by realty major Unitech to set up an IT SEZ in Uttar Pradesh and another by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd to set up a pharmaceutical SEZ in Andhra Pradesh.
The government has cleared over 400 proposals to set up tax-free zones, out of which 187 have been notified.
“Over Rs.560 billion have been invested in these notified SEZs, which will create 100,000 jobs in 2008,” Pillai said after the meeting.
The commerce secretary also said the central government will not cancel the notification status of SEZs in Goa since there was no provision in the SEZ act for such an action.
The Goa government had earlier said that it has recommended the scrapping of all SEZs in the state.