SEZ issue should not be politicised: Dhoot

Jaipur, Apr 12 (UNI) If the politics is not kept above the national interest, India might lose golden opportunity of transforming its rural sector through SEZs and they should not become Special Erratic Zone (SEZ), an industry chamber said here today.

''The SEZ issue should not be politicised. The Centre and state Governments should be facilitator and ensure that no farmer exploitation takes place, they are provided with adequate compensation, job and equity participation in SEZ,'' Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot said.

He said in 10 years, India will have the potential of attracting three lakh crore of fresh investment, create 50 lakh job opportunities, double its exports and completely change the rural scenario provided SEZ come up.

Mr Dhoot also mooted a proposal to the Union Government to release a special package of Rs 1,000 crore for Rajasthan to make it the epicentre for 2010 Commonwealth Games tourists by renovating and beautifying its tourists sites.

The Assocham President who met the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said, matching fund should also be earmarked by the State Government in the proposed package to witness mushrooming of budgeted and three-star hotels and help the state surge in employment opportunities.

He said this has been suggested because Rajasthan being the nearest historic state from Delhi would have a natural potential to better sell it to Commonwealth countries tourists during 2010 games and earn for its exchequer handsome gains in volumes as also build its new image for good for overall development.

He also suggested to the Chief Minister to set up chains of gems and jewellery processing parks in the state and announce special package for setting up of IT and ITEs hubs, huge mining centres and create centres for agricultural training institutes (ATIs), robotics and automation facilities to bring State on national roadmap.

Mr Dhoot emphasised the need for creation of knowledge SEZs in the state to develop skills that can enhance its exports particularly of crops, handicrafts, textiles and potwares.

Classified centres for biotechnology should also be set up by establishing proper linkages with proposed ATIs so that the State increase its agri production particularly of wheat, maize and other corn production.

With a record arrival of more than 12 lakh foreign tourists and 170 lakh domestic tourists during the year 2005-06, Rajasthan has been one of the most popular destinations for all.

The trends of the record arrivals reaffirm the growing popularity of Rajasthan as the most preferred tourist destination worldwide.

The rate of growth of tourism in Rajasthan has been phenomenal in last few years. Annual rate of growth for domestic tourists has been seven per cent and for international tourists has been five per cent.

The total spending by all the tourists visiting the state is over Rs 1,000 crore per annum.

UNI