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Activity picks up at Iffco Kisan SEZ SEZ News
Notwithstanding the protest by farmers to return their lands, the first unit in the Iffco-promoted Kisan SEZ at Racharlapadu in Kodavalur mandal of SPSR Nellore district, is likely to begin operations before the end of this year. The SEZ was in the news during recent byelection after farmers of Racharla-padu, who gave their lands to Iffco to set up a fertiliser factory in 1997, boycotted the election, demanding th-at Iffco return their lands. Incidentally, the naphtha-based fertiliser factory was shelved following the staggering cost of naphtha and non-availability of natural gas in the region then. It may be mentioned here that Iffco acquired 2,800 acres for the fertiliser factory and about 700 acre of the total extent was procured from farmers after paying compensation as per government norms then. Iffco came out with the Kisan SEZ proposal after the state government objected to ke-eping the lands idle, following an outcry by farmers during the Dr YSR regime. Subsequently, the foundation stone was laid for the SEZ by Dr YSR in February 2008. Although farmers became silent, expecting jobs in the SEZ, they started raising a hue and cry, following delay in the execution of the SEZ project. In this backdrop, a Chennai-based export-oriented unit M/s A.D Jeya-veerapandia Nadar & Bros, is likely to commence operations in the SEZ before the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year. Land is already earmarked in the SEZ for the firm which will process and exp-ort onions, red chillies and potatoes from Kisan SEZ. Speaking to this newspaper, chief executive officer of the Kisan SEZ M. Rajasekharaiah said that they had obtained all the required licences. He said that Rs.35 crore-estimated scheme related to supply of water through pipelines from the Kanigiri reservoir to the SEZ was in progress. Reacting to a question on apprehensions in the local community in Racharlapadu over the SEZ, he said that they had already spent Rs.62 crore to create infrastructure facilities in the SEZ and several agriculture-based industries have been expressing interest to start units in the special economic zone. |
Notwithstanding the protest by farmers to return their lands, the first unit in the Iffco-promoted Kisan SEZ at Racharlapadu in Kodavalur mandal of SPSR Nellore district, is likely to begin operations before the end of this year.