Maharashtra government to soon formulate BOT policy

The Maharashtra Government has identified a need for all BOT projects in the state to be implemented following certain guidelines. For this, it will soon formulate a policy with norms, which will have to be adhered to by the civic bodies who implement the BOT projects. The need for such a policy rose, as in the present situation, civic bodies randomly approve the BOT projects in the state, without often ensuring maximum benefit.

IT policy to be announced by TN government

The Tamil Nadu government has formulated a policy for the IT industry with an ambitious intent to double exports from the state. The state is now soon to make its policy official. The policy also directs at increasing the present 4 lakh employment opportunities to 8 lakh. IT Parks have been planned in city, suburbs, and tier-II towns like Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Salem, Krishnagiri and Vellore. A 17 lakh sq.ft. park has been proposed in Coimbatore, involving an investment of Rs.335 crore. Orders have been issued for land acquisition for the Madurai park. The state cabinet recently cleared the policy.

Punjab to get new industrial policy

A new industrial policy is taking shape for Punjab, and is expected to be implemented within a short time, after UNIDO submits its draft report to the state government. The policy would be shaped with recommendations from the representatives of the small, medium and large industries in Punjab. Within its Power sector, the state aims to make the state as power surplus, by executing new power projects of 5000 to 6000 MW power, during the coming five years.

A second international airport is being set up at Mohali; a state government initiative to strengthen air transport within Punjab. A civil terminal is being set up at Bhatinda. To facilitate the movement of industrial goods from the state, a freight corridor is planned by the Government of India, and has been extended from Kolkata - Delhi to Ludhiana. Industrial parks have been planned to be developed as also four textile park projects- two textile parks at Ludhiana. The state has asked for the GOI to sanction additional textile parks for Punjab in view of availability of cotton in the state.

Road infrastructure is being upgraded by four / sixlaning existing roads, constructing new road over bridges, rail over bridges and modern bus terminals. The government is also in the process of enacting the SEZ Act, which will facilitate the development of SEZs in Punjab.

Centre approves Maharashtra SEZ Bill

After a two-year wait, SEZ proposals in Maharashtra will receive impetus, as the Union Cabinet cleared the Maharashtra SEZ Bill in May 2008. The Union Cabinet has so far cleared 128 SEZs in Maharashtra, to be built over a total land area of about 50,000 ha, at an investment worth approximately Rs.1,34,777 crore. When giving its approvals, the Cabinet has declined Maharashtra government's proposal for labour law flexibility in the SEZs. Instead, it has asked the state to make the town-planning law applicable to SEZs and instruct companies to strictly follow the new building code in SEZs.

The central SEZ law in India was enacted in 2005, post which, states were asked to put in place similar laws covering land acquisition, labour laws, VAT and other taxes. Accordingly, the Maharashtra government cleared its SEZ Bill in 2006 and forwarded the same for the Centre's approval.