45 Special Economic Zones notified in state: Minister

Hyderabad, Nov 12 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy today said 45 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) had been notified so far in Andhra Pradesh with some of the companies already starting construction.

Replying to a question raised by Opposition TDP floor leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao, P. Raghunatha Reddy and others in the Legislative Council, she said 27 companies had started construction in 13 SEZs and tabled the details in the House.

She said the notified SEZs covered an area of 17,031 acres and added only dry lands had been allotted.

Asked whether there was any provision by which the lands could be taken back from the companies in the SEZs if they failed to complete construction within a stipulated time, she said the state government would take back the lands if they failed to fulfil the stipulations within three years after the notification.

However, she said the companies were taking up the construction work as per rules and there would be no delay in setting up the industries.

She refuted allegations that some of them were doing real estate business after obtaining the land from the state government instead of setting up the industries.

Ms Reddy said the government had not issued any guidelines or instructions with regard to Corporate social responsibility to industries dependent upon local resources.

Replying to questions raised by Kandula Lakshmi Durgesh Prasad, she said major industries had been taking up corporate social responsibilities on voluntary basis by indulging in a variety of community service activities.

She refuted the allegations of some of the members aftar taking concessions from the government, Corporate houses were not discharging their social responsibilities in their areas.

UNI