The ambitious special economic zone (SEZ) at Pithampur is all set to get delayed. Already serious mishandling of funds for the project is coming to light. | |
| One example is the temporary iron-fencing arrangements that have been made under Phase-II of the project. According to sources, the Madhya Pradesh Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam (MPAKVN) has spent Rs 50 lakh on materials for fencing that will simply go waste. |
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| The prerequisite for the custom bonding notification is a boundary wall and the land would not be notified on the basis of temporary fencing. As per the notification issued under the Central Excise Act, the location for SEZ should be enclosed by a boundary wall varying from 3.30 meters to 6.6 meters depending upon the site condition with 1.2 meter arm length 'Y' angle barbed wire fencing for a further vertical height of 0.9 meter. |
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| However, MPAKVN has installed an iron fencing in the land meant for the phase II. |
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| When contacted, MPAKVN managing director Ashish Shrivastava said no such fencing has been done though on a temporary basis the nigam can go for such arrangements. He denied that Rs 50 lakh has been spent on fencing and went on to add that even if some amount was spent, the material can always be used again for some other purpose. |
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| About the allegations of delay in the construction of the concrete wall, he added that MPAKVN is finalising the tenders for the boundary wall and it should be completed in 10-20 days. |
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| In the mean time, the delay in the wall construction has already hit the construction work of the industrial units. IPCA Laboratories, which is the only unit in the SEZ so far in the phase II, is suffering because of this. |
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| An official said the company has been allotted 63 acre of land worth Rs 8 crore in sector two but the construction work has been delayed by six months because of the absence of the boundary wall, not to mention roads and other infrastructure. |
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