Hooda takes exception to the SEZ criticism

Faridabad, June 20 (UNI) Harana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today condemned the BJP and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) for ciriticising the state government's for its decision to set up a multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as a joint venture with Reliance Industries.

Talking to mediapersons here he said that these opposition parties had been opposing the setting up of SEZ without any reason because they were not able to digest the fast pace of development in the state.

He reminded the opposition that in 2004 the then NDA government at the Centre had decided to set up SEZs in the entire country.

Referring to the BJP he said that the BJP government in adjoining Rajasthan had given land to a private company to set up a SEZ. Also, the government led by Mr Narender Modi in Gujarat has signed an agreement to provide land for SEZ in Jamnagar,he added.

''It appears that the BJP and INLD did not like development of villages and of villagers'', he added.

He said that the SEZ would generate a revenue of Rs 10,000 crore whereas, the present budget of the state government was Rs 20,000 crore per annum.

He said that a 2000 MW gas based power plant would also be set up in the SEZ by the Reliance Industries and the power generated by this plant would be cheapest in the world. ''This group of industries has its own gas, therefore, the generation of power would not be interrupted,'' he added.

Without naming the Congress MP Kuldip Bishnoi, Mr Hooda said that some leaders might have personal reasons to oppose the SEZ project. However, he made it clear that the legislators as well as workers of the party were not being ignored and they were all aware that this project would accelerate the pace of development in the state and also benefit the country.

He said that the SEZ to be set up over an area of 25,000 acres in Jhajjar and Gurgaon districts by Reliance Industries and HSIDC would prove a milestone in the development of the state.

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