Only two SEZ started in MP in last 13 years: RTI

In the last 13 years only two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have come up in Madhya Pradesh, according to an RTI query.
"Since 2003, 10 SEZs had been notified in MP. But only a Multi Product SEZ at Dhar district's Pithampur Industrial area and Crystal IT Park having the status of IT SEZ in Indore have become operational," Chandrashekhar Gaud, an activist based in Neemuch told PTI citing information given to his RTI query.
The two SEZs have been developed by Indore Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam, he said.
"A mining product-based SEZ and an agriculture produce based SEZ to be developed in Jabalpur by Jabalpur Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam have been denotified," the RTI reply said.

Aluminium products based SEZ to be developed by Hindalco Industries in Singrauli district and an IT SEZ that was to be developed by Parshwanath Developers in Indore have also been denotified, it added.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Impetus are developing their SEZs, which were notified in 2013, at different locations in Indore.

The central government's levy of Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT) and Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) on SEZ have come as a deterrent to SEZ expansion in MP and India, sources said.
Pithampur Audyogik Sangathan head Gautam Kothari said they had urged the previous UPA government to roll back MAT and DDT on SEZ. He added that the NDA government was yet to take decision in this regard.

"The industrialists are shying away to make investment in the SEZs due to burden of MAT and DDT," Kothari said.