National

U.P. refuses nod for Ambani SEZ

No way: Anil Ambani.

LUCKNOW: Taking the plea of Central Government norms on Special Economic Zones, the Uttar Pradesh Government has refused to grant permission to the multi-product SEZ of Reliance (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) which had been proposed to be set up at Noida.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Mayawati here on Saturday. The SEZ proposal had been sent for clearance to the Central Government in June.

Without naming the Reliance group, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Shailesh Krishna told newspersons that the SEZ proposal was sent to the Centre after studying the report of the panel constituted for reviewing the Uttar Pradesh SEZ Policy of 2006.

The Central Government was informed by the State Government that an additional 2,000 acres of land was required for the Noida SEZ, which was not possible without mandatory acquisition of land. Mr. Krishna said that in the light of the Government of India’s norms dated June 15, 2006, permission for the SEZ has been denied. Some landowners had objected to acquisition of their land for the purpose of the SEZ, Mr. Krishna added.

He said according to the new norms laid down by the Centre, compulsory acquisition of land for SEZs had been prohibited. Besides, the clause pertaining to the first-come-first-served basis in the 2006 U.P. SEZ policy has been replaced by the principle of public-private partnership (PPP) for development of economic zones.

By another decision on Saturday the Cabinet fixed the maximum age for persons becoming Vice-Chancellors of State universities, U.P. Technical University, Uttar Pradesh Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University and the State agriculture universities. Henceforth only those candidates would be appointed V-Cs who are below the age of 65 years. They will hold office for three years and will retire at the age of 68. If a candidate becomes V-C at the age of 64 he would be eligible for re-appointment after completing three years in office but will automatically retire at the age of 68 even if he has been re-appointed to the office. An ordinance would be issued for amending the relevant Acts for implementing the Cabinet proposal, Mr. Krishna said.

Meanwhile, the Government has allowed the backlog of vacant posts for Scheduled Tribes in government jobs to be filled by persons belonging to Scheduled Castes. This system had been scrapped by the previous regime led by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh.

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