Mangalore SEZ work likely to take off soon

Work on the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Company is moving in a rapid pace and land for the first phase is likely to be acquired soon.

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study has been conducted and the preliminary report is being submitted in the next two weeks.

According to Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president A Srinivas Rao, the foundation for the SEZ will be formally laid soon after the submission of EIA report.

The public hearing committee (PHC) which met at Town Hall recently regarding the acquisition of land has decided to offer Rs 7,000 for a cent of land (100 cents make an acre).

But the member of Parliament from Udupi Manorama Madwaraj had raised an objection and demanded Rs 15,000 for a cent of land. The deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada H V Parshwanath clearly stated that land for the IT SEZ at Konaje was been acquired at a rate of Rs 6,000 for a cent and clearly refused to consider her demand.

Meantime, the Union ministry of surface transport clearance is yet to come as the New Mangalore Port Trust is involved in the project. The project is being monitored by the prime minister Manmohan Singh once in a month.

"If everything goes on schedule the SEZ would be operational in five years", Rao said.

Out of 24,700 acres being proposed to be acquired for the project, about 8,000 acres are available to the Northeast of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), 840 acres to the South of MRPL (Jesco land), 2,000 acres to the East of Jesco, 3,500 acres to the Southeast of MRPL (already coming under first phase) and 300 acres of the New Mangalore Port Trust.

Other industries that are interested in setting up units in the Mangalore SEZ are from pharmaceuticals, cashew and garment manufacturers.

"Once the SEZ is ready we expect several downstream industries to come up", Rao said and added "the state government has already appointed the nodal officer for the Mangalore SEZ Company. However, it may take some time for the Centre to clear it. The KCCI is also investing in the Mangalore SEZ.