Tata's SEZ gets nod, Navi Mumbai call put on hold

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday deferred a decision on the Mukesh Ambani-promoted Navi Mumbai multi-product special economic zone (SEZ) and asked the Maharashtra government to submit a report on the objections raised by the revenue department.

The revenue department had, in its report, pointed out that the proposed SEZ could create problems for the residents of the five villages that fall in the zone. The board of approvals (BoA) on SEZs, which met on Thursday, approved 28 proposals, including the long-pending Tata’s Gopalpur SEZ in Orissa.

Of the 28, formal approvals were given to 22 proposals that were in possession of land while six were given in-principle approvals. Two proposals for SEZs in Goa were deferred because of Assembly elections in the state.

Official sources told ET that the Maharashtra government representatives, who attended the BoA meeting, claimed the state had looked into all aspects of the Navi Mumbai proposal and had found no discrepancies. BoA, however, insisted it would have to submit a report in the light of the objections raised in the Customs inspection report.

The revenue department had pointed out that if the five villages falling within the proposed site get encircled, the inhabitants may not be able to access civic amenities, mainly water bodies. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), too, raised objections on the ground that part of the land claimed by the developers belonged to it.

“We will seek comments from the state government and promoters on the report of the revenue department,” commerce secretary and BoA chairman Gopal K Pillai said. The matter is expected to come up again at the board’s next meeting on June 22.

BoA approved the Gopalpur SEZ promoted by Tatas that will come up on over 1,173 hectares. The clearance was delayed earlier as BoA wanted approval from security agencies since the project is located close to a crucial defence establishment.