Maharashtra village seeks SEZ status

A copy of the resolution, approved at a gram sabha meeting on Thursday, has been sent to the Central and the state Governments for “necessary permission and recommendation”. Prior to the gram sabha meeting, the 11-member Avasari Khurd gram panchayat too had unanimously passed a resolution seeking SEZ status for the village on June 27.

Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) coordinator Sopan Bhor, who has brought the farmers on a common platform, told The Indian Express on Saturday that all the agriculturists from the village have decided to form a company, Avasari Khurd Industrial Development Pvt Ltd, using 3,550 acres of land. The total land in Avasari Khurd is 6,250 acres. “Out of this, the farmers will develop agricultural business on 2,665 acres of land while industrial development will be carried out on 2,489 acre land,” he said. Currently, villagers occupy 871 acres of land for living. “We plan to develop 1,066 acres of land for residential purpose. Avasari Khurd is looking at becoming a new industrial city,” Bhor said.

Out of the 2,489 acres land to be used for industrial purpose, the plan is to allot 711 acres to automobile sector, 142 acres to electronic and electric sector, 142 acres for Information Technology, 142 acres for pharmaceutical and chemical sector and 142 acres for bio-technology and horticulture. “On 1,269 acres land, productive industry will come up,” Bhor said. The plan also envisages allotting 142 acres for warehousing and transport, 355 acres for the service industry, markets, malls. A total of 713 acres will go to for laying roads, setting up gardens, drainage facility and other infrastructure.

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