SEZs spreading wings

To say that Gurgaon is content with its development is an over statement. With the recent proposal to have more Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the city seems to have an insatiable desire to grow.Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are coming up in Gurgaon in a big way to attract more business, of which five are to be set up by private players in synergy with the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). Land acquisition has already started in several areas for the projects that are lately attracting different private players.

“We have already received formal approval from the Haryana Government and Ministry of Commerce, Government of India for multi-service SEZ project. This 8000-crore project will have IT, biotechnology, cargo and warehouse facilities. Talks are on with different builders for it to be developed. The project will take ten years for completion,” says Rahul Chopra, director SKN Bentex Group. According to Chopra, the projects will further augment the prospect and prosperity of the city with creation of lakhs of job opportunities with industrial development. The joint venture agreements with DLF have been signed for setting up multi-product SEZs in Gurgaon. DLF IT SEZ with campus development in Silokhara is nearing completion and it is expected to be functional by the first quarter of 2009. However, DLF is waiting for the latest government policy on their multi product SEZ in Manesar.
On the other hand the HSIIDC is coming up with a joint venture with Reliance Industries Limited for the SEZ in an area of 21,000 acres. “HSIIDC has handed over 14,000 acres of land to Reliance in the villages of Jharsa, Narishingpur, Khandsa and adjoining areas. The HSIIDC received 10 percent sweat equity in these projects and contributed 1,086 acres from its own land bank,” informed Hamvir Singh, deputy GM HSIIDC. Sources in the Reliance Industries Limited maintain, “Land acquiring process is on and once this is over, we will jump to the next step.”

Likewise Raheja Group’s SEZ inManesar is also coming up. It is near the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and will be joining the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Global Corridor and the Western Railway Freight Corridor. Residents have their shares of reactions on coming up of so many SEZs. “I am not sure if such SEZs will help Gurgaon or not. Such projects should be started in backward states and other underdeveloped areas of Haryana. We do not need such projects here,” opines Amrit Sharma, a resident of DLF Phase-II.

Despite lucrative compensation offered by Haryana government (an annual royalty of Rs 10,000 per acre for 33 years to the farmers affected by state industrial and housing projects) besides usual compensation of 25 percent job reservation for farmers and landless villagers dependent on land acquired and job reservations for reserved categories as sanitation staff in the SEZs, farmers are not showing enthusiasm.