NRI’s query under RTI Act gets response
The Newindpress.com
Friday August 17 2007 11:48 IST
HUBLI: Going by the facts revealed under the Right to Information Act by an official of the State Industries and Commerce Department, the proposed IT/ITeS Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Hubli by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) seems like a non-starter.
The company itself has shown lukewarm response and even the Central Government has stopped granting in-principle approval for IT SEZ projects.
The State Government had cleared the proposal of TCS to establish an IT/ITeS SEZ on 50 acres in Hubli-Dharwad with an investment of Rs 120 crore. The project was cleared at the State High Level Committee meeting held on Aug 28, 2006. Responding to an application filed by Nagesh Taverageri, an NRI from Hubli living in California, under the Right to Information Act seeking information on the status of the SEZ project granted to IT bellwether TCS, the Deputy Director (SEZ) has said that the company has to acquire the land to be allotted by Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board participating in the auction.
So far, the company has not informed the progress of land acquisition to the State Government. And till now, the company has not filed the SEZ Form A application with the Union Ministry of Commerce as the proposed land is not in possession of the company. ‘‘Submitting of SEZ Form A is prerequisite for the formal approval of IT SEZ,’’ the office said in a reply.
On the information sought on expediting the process, the reply is ‘the ball is in the TCS court.’ The officer said: ‘‘If the company takes possession of the land and submits the SEZ Form A application with Government of India, the State will recommend the proposal to the Centre for granting formal approval.’’
The Newindpress.com
Friday August 17 2007 11:48 IST
HUBLI: Going by the facts revealed under the Right to Information Act by an official of the State Industries and Commerce Department, the proposed IT/ITeS Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Hubli by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) seems like a non-starter.
The company itself has shown lukewarm response and even the Central Government has stopped granting in-principle approval for IT SEZ projects.
The State Government had cleared the proposal of TCS to establish an IT/ITeS SEZ on 50 acres in Hubli-Dharwad with an investment of Rs 120 crore. The project was cleared at the State High Level Committee meeting held on Aug 28, 2006. Responding to an application filed by Nagesh Taverageri, an NRI from Hubli living in California, under the Right to Information Act seeking information on the status of the SEZ project granted to IT bellwether TCS, the Deputy Director (SEZ) has said that the company has to acquire the land to be allotted by Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board participating in the auction.
So far, the company has not informed the progress of land acquisition to the State Government. And till now, the company has not filed the SEZ Form A application with the Union Ministry of Commerce as the proposed land is not in possession of the company. ‘‘Submitting of SEZ Form A is prerequisite for the formal approval of IT SEZ,’’ the office said in a reply.
On the information sought on expediting the process, the reply is ‘the ball is in the TCS court.’ The officer said: ‘‘If the company takes possession of the land and submits the SEZ Form A application with Government of India, the State will recommend the proposal to the Centre for granting formal approval.’’
