Chavan hails new industrial policy

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday termed the state’s new industrial policy as ‘path breaking’ while trying to deflect the opposition’s criticism of it.

“The new industrial policy is a path-breaking one. Such a policy is quite timely to face competition from other states especially in the western region,” said Chavan

The Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena-led opposition in Maharashtra has criticised the new industrial policy saying it as “aims to benefit industrialists, builders and developers.”

Chavan, however, denied the charge.

“The policy envisages the development of Integrated Industrial Area (IIA) wherein promoters of now de-notified special economic zones (SEZs) would have to put 60 per cent, up from 50 per cent in the SEZ policy, to industrial use and 30 per cent to residential and 10 per cent for commercial purposes.”

He also said no public lands are covered under the IIA policy. Of the 29,000 hectares of land set aside under the policy, about 16,000 hectares have been acquired by private persons through negotiations with villagers and farmers for 124 SEZs which stand denotified, he said.

“The balance 13,000 hectares are being acquired by the private sector by roping in state-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and City and Industrial development Corporation.”

In case of lands acquired by MIDC under the MID Act for the private sector under a joint venture route, the JV board would have to take a call whether to pursue SEZs or convert the land into IIA.