Centre formally approves Perambalur SEZ

SEZ expected to generate about 50,000 jobs over seven years

Nearly 40 per cent of the zone will be

built up area

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TIRUCHI: The Union Government has approved the multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Perambalur to be jointly promoted by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation and GVK Perambalur SEZ Limited.

The Board of Approval for SEZs cleared the project on Monday. With this, the stage is set for the laying of the foundation stone for the project by Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi in the first week of January. According to district officials, 2,863 acres have been acquired for the SEZ. Only 64 acres remained to be acquired. The lands are spread over five villages of Pennakonam (South and North), Thirumanthurai, Peraiyur and Eraiyur, some 20 km away from here towards Chennai. The location of the SEZ, right along the Tiruchi-Chennai National Highway, is expected to be the main attraction for companies to set shop here.

The SEZ will cater to industries such as textile/garments, leather, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, power, IT/ITES, iron and steel, fertilizers, chemicals, petrochemicals, floriculture, horticulture, electronics and communication. The project is a joint venture between GVK and TIDCO, through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), GVK Perambalur Private Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd. Officials said that the SEZ was expected to attract investments to the tune of about Rs.5,000 crore over a seven-year period and generate about 50,000 jobs.

“With the issue of approval notification, we will begin the infrastructure development and other project-related activities. Nearly 40 per cent of the SEZ will be built up area,” P.Srinivasa Reddy, Director, GVK Perambalur SEZ Ltd., told The Hindu, on Wednesday. The SEZ would be a complete township with all amenities, including educational institutions and residential quarters.

Mr.Reddy said already several companies, including engineering and chemical industries, had evinced interest in setting shop at the SEZ. “The SEZ will have a world-class effluent treatment plant and we plan to encourage industries under the red category which are normally shunned,” Mr.Reddy said.

A study has already been taken up at the site to study the wind directions in various seasons so as to assess their possible impact, from the pollution point of view. GVK also plans to go for a captive power plant for the SEZ.