Reliance Haryana SEZ gets in-principle approval

New Delhi, Jan 21 (UNI) The Board of Approval of special economic zones, which today formally approved 11 SEZs, also gave an in-principle nod to Mukesh Amabni's Reliance Industries' Jhajjar SEZ in Haryana.

It, however, remains to be seen if the government would also lift the 5,000-hectare cap on multi-product SEZs such as RIL's Haryana project.

Commerce Secretary G K Pillai had recently said once new land acquisition gets parliamentary approval, the government could consider lifting the ceiling on multi-product SEZs on a case-by-case basis.

Of the eleven SEZs formally approved by the BoA, which met under Mr Pillai, two in-principle approvals were converted into formal approval today. The Board altogether considered 19 proposals, including 2 for conversion of in-principle approvals, an official statement said.

Of the formally approved SEZs today, three are for information technology and IT-enabled services (ITeS) in Maharashtra. These are one each by Juventus Builders and Developers and by Fama Estate Pvt Ltd in Raigarh and one by Rajiv Gandhi IT Park Co-operative Society in Aurangabad.

One each SEZ in gem and jewellary would be set up by AEC Marketing Pvt. Ltd in Dadra Nagar Haveli and by Goldsouk International Gems and Jewellary SEZ Pvt Ltd in Gurgaon, Haryana.

Sarv-Mangal Realtech, Gallant Infrastructure and Jubilant Infracon have been allowed to set up an IT/ITeS SEZ each at Noida, adjoining Delhi.

Glenmark Pharma has been given the nod to set up a biotechnology SEZ at Shendre in Maharashtra.

In-principle approval to Haldia Free Trade Warehousing to set up a free trade and warehousing zone at Haldia in West Bengal and to RNB Infrastructure to establish a textile SEZ in Bikaner, Rajasthan were today converted into formal approval by the BoA.

The government has so far given formal approvals for setting up of 428 SEZs, out of which 194 have been notified. Mr Pillai said over Rs 52,193 crore have been invested in these notified SEZs which have given direct employment to over 94,832 people.

Besides, 7 central government's SEZs had given employment to over 1.81 lakh people.

UNI SAA SR HT1942