Suzlon to set up SEZ in Udupi

Udupi, Karnataka, July 21 (UNI) Suzlon Infrastructure Limited has proposed to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for high tech engineering products of non-conventional energy related to windmills near Padubidre in the district.

Informing this to newspersons here today, company Senior Manager (Corporate Affairs) M Aleem said the company proposed to set up six plants in the first phase to manufacture different components of windmills at Nandikur, parts of Hejamady, Nadsal and Palimar near Padubidre. The 100 per cent export oriented company had planned to make an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. At the end of the final stage, it had proposed to manufacture windmills to produce 3,800 MW power.

He said the Karnataka Government had agreed in principle for the proposal and reserved 1,200 acres of land. The survey work for the eco-friendly project was on and measures have been taken to see that minimum number of houses and trees were affected or displaced.

Mr Aleem said the company had proposed to set up a rotary blade unit to produce seven tonne capacity blades at Muloor on the NH near Kaup here. This unit required about 150 acres of private land. It had also proposed to set up a similar unit near Padubidre.

He said the company had chosen Udupi over Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu despite receiving invitations from these Governments due to the ''best port facility'' available in New Mangalore.

The plant could provide employment opportunities to about 1,000 people in the initial stage, which would reach about 3,000 in the final stage, he said, adding that a majority of the personnel would be absorbed locally.

Deputy Commissioner V Ponnaraju, who was also present, said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) had notified 2,000 acres in and around Nandikur for industrial purpose. Of this, 675 acres had been set apart for Nagarjuna power project. In the remaining land, 1,200 acres had now been reserved for Suzlon.

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