Notice to five companies for blocking SEZ land in Hinjewadi

Nearly four years after it started allotting land to companies in the third phase of IT SEZ in Hinjewadi, most of the land has remained unused as majority of companies have not been able to set up units there.

Taking this into consideration, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has initiated action against five companies for blocking the land and have issued notices asking them to start construction, failing which the government will take back the land from them.

MIDC officials said the notices were issued last month. Of the 53 plots that were allotted by the MIDC in the SEZ, constructions have only started on 11 plots, they said. Officials said the notices were issued to these companies as they had not obtained letters of intent from Development Commissioner SEZ, which is a necessary pre-condition for beginning the work. Of the 353 acres of campus area of IT SEZ, these companies were allotted around 10 acres of land, officials said.

However, regional officer, IT, Pune, MIDC, Ajit Relekar, said that two of the five companies have assured that they will start construction on the alloted land soon. "We are reviewing their cases and action on taking back the land will be initiated shortly," said Relekar.

According to industry representatives there are difficulties in making SEZ fully operational.

Stating that electricity to phase III of the SEZ is being supplied from pahse II, President of Hinjewadi Industries Association Mritunjay Kumar Singh said there is a need to set up a dedicated substation in phase III so that companies can save money on setting up their own transmission system.

Deepak Shikarpur, chairman of IT committee of Maharatta Chamber of Commerce industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), said, "The delay in making phase III fully operational may be owing to withdrawal of incentives in the SEZs by the government."

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