The Hindu Business Line : Salim Group ready for shifting to alternative site for SEZ

Project details
Dr Sen said the State Government would have to zero in on an alternative site for the proposed SEZ before conveying the decision in this regard to the Salim Group.
He said the Salim Group was keen to begin work on various infrastructure projects that had been proposed.

Kolkata April 4 The Salim Group of Indonesia, which has proposed to implement several projects in West Bengal, has agreed to shift the site of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project that was earlier proposed to be set up in Nandigram.

This was stated here today by Dr Sabyasachi Sen, West Bengal's Industries Secretary, after a meeting with Mr Prasoon Mukherjee, spokesperson of New Kolkata International Development, a special purpose vehicle that has been formed to implement the Salim Group's projects in West Bengal.

Mr Mukherjee discussed the progress of the various projects with the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee.

Following violent protests against land acquisition in Nandigram, the West Bengal Government had announced a few days ago that the proposed SEZ project would be shifted to a different site if the local people did not want it to be set up at Nandigram. Nearby Haldia is being talked of as a possible relocation site for the proposed SEZ/chemical hub.

Alternative site

Speaking to newspersons after his meeting with Mr Mukherjee, Dr Sen said the State Government would have to zero in on an alternative site for the proposed SEZ before conveying the decision in this regard to the Salim Group. He said the Salim Group was keen to begin work on various infrastructure projects that had been proposed. Work on these would start as soon as possession of land was handed over to them.

Dr Sen said the agreement for the proposed SEZ with the Salim Group envisages its implementation over a 15-year period from the date of signing of the agreement. The agreement does not mention that the entire land required would have to be handed over to the Salim Group at one go. As such, handing over the required land in a staggered manner could not be ruled out.

According to him, the State Government would ideally like to acquire land for industrial purposes and ensure that private investors are permitted use of the land as "lessees". However, the State Government was open to the idea direct purchase of land by industry. "That is also a valid option," he said.

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