By Viju Mangalore - Daijiworld News Network Mangalore
Jun 22: Adamant they were to get Mangalore the magical wand which will cast its spell of development in and around the region. The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) did not miss any opportunity and never hesitated to utilize any stage given to it to moot the idea of a Special Economic Zone. And now it’s at hand.
A major milestone in the development of the region and placing it prominently in the world map, the KCCI’s backing to this has borne fruit. While china’s exponential economic growth is credited to the sanctioning of 62 SEZs in 2002, India had only 8. Better late than never, the SEZ, which the Centre approved, has a proposal to spread across 24,700 acres.
Spearheading the KCCI’s prime agenda, the SEZ is its president A Srinivas Rao. Daijiworld correspondent spoke exclusively with him on the path the SEZ tread to reach Mangalore.
File Photo: Mangalore Refinery & Petrolium Ltd
When conceptualized, SEZ here was to be set up in a joint collaboration of Nagarjuna, KIADB and ILFS. The absence of a mega company was pinpointed and then it was ONGC, which stepped forward to be the major player.
On August 30 2004, a MoU was signed with the government where ONGC proposed to invest Rs 25,000 crore on LNG terminal, Naphtha Cracker unit, Gas pipeline connection and on power.
“The major task was to steal back the SEZ from Mani Shankar Iyer who wanted it to shift to Tamil Nadu. Much lobbing took place between both the government bigwigs. It is here that we need to appreciate the pressure group formed by the leaders and the prominent individuals of Mangalore,” says Srinivas Rao.
Srinivas Rao
With the clouds of uncertainty cleared and Karnataka retaining the SEZ, what progressed next was a slow and steady phenomenon. The floating of a company comprising MRPL, KIADB, ILFS and KCCI had its first board meeting on Feb 20.
The proposal of 24,700 acres of land for SEZ comprises of 1,600 acres near MRPL, 800 acres of Nagarjuna, 81 acres near Tannirbhavi and 2,000 acres in the east of the Jesco land. The land in the North Eastern part of MRPL up to Bajpe is also proposed to be included in the SEZ project. The Infosys’ SEZ project in Dakshina Kannada is proposed to be set up over an area of 125 hectares. The NMPT has asked for a separate SEZ that was rejected. The Mangalore SEZ will now cover Three hundred acres of NMPT land also. However the proposal has several other regions, which sum up to 24,700 acres of land.
Srinivas Rao recollects that the ONGC’s Mangalore SEZ proposal could not be cleared at the meeting of the BoA held in March this year, but under MRPL, the SEZ is proposed to be set up over an area of 1,200 hectares and already 500 hectares of land has been acquired.
The center’s motive behind promoting SEZ’s has been to boost Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow. The Mangalore SEZ Ltd, which is on a trip to US, is engaged in advertising the Mangalore SEZ and meeting prospective investors. The team led by SEZ nodal officer Prasad and couple of officers of MRPL met nearly 50 CEOs in Washington and also is campaigning for the SEZ between the NRI’s.
Among the various foreign companies, which have come forward to set up their units in the Mangalore SEZ, is the Japanese EISAI Pharmaceutical Private Limited. Blue Scope has also shown its interest in this regard.
Mangalore SEZ is Close to PM’s Heart:
A special interest is being shown by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh toward the Mangalore SEZ. The PM who expressed this on several meetings also conducts monthly review of the progress of the Mangalore SEZ. It is with this keenness that he personally will be down in Mangalore to set the ball rolling for the SEZ.
Gains to Mangalore:
The SEZ will get huge scope to down stream industries. The exports will be through the outlets like NMPT, Bajpe Airport and the Southern Railways, which again would transform into huge business. While the SEZ Act states employment to the locals, Infosys alone is planning to employ over 100,000 people.
SEZ and Bajpe Airport:
The green signal to the Mangalore SEZ is building up more pressure to upgrade the Bajpe Airport to international standards. The PM’s visit will thrown more light on this dream of the Mangaloreans.