K'taka to set up five SEZs in tier-II cities

Bangalore, Feb 28 (UNI) Bracing itself to meet the competition from industry-friendly States like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka has decided to go ahead with its plans to set up SEZs in five tier-II cities.

''We are promoting SEZs in a big way in smaller cities and will set up five such SEZs in Mysore, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad and Bidar,'' Major and Medium Industries Minister Katta Subramania Naidu said today.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the Government had no other go, but to locate SEZs in smaller cities as it was now impossible to set them up in the city. The proposed SEZs would be fully compliant with the Centre's guidelines and the Government would avoid acquiring fertile land for the purpose, he added.

UNI