Future tense for Mulayam projects

Mayawati faces a lot of administrative and political challenges as she assumes the chief minister’s office, reports Umesh Raghuvanshi.

Mayawati faces a lot of administrative and political challenges as she assumes the chief minister’s office on Sunday.

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A few pet projects of outgoing chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav may come up for review.

These include the proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs) at Bhadohi (Varanasi) and Kanpur, expansion of Greater Noida Phase-II (involving setting up of a warehousing zone), besides 14 SEZ proposals pending clearance by the Board of Approvals in the Union Ministry of Commerce.

Doubts are being raised over the future of the Dhirubhai Ambani Energy City Special Economic Zone at Dadri, which includes a power plant. The company has already started land acquisition process.

“SEZs are a central subject unlikely to be affected by transfer of power. We would suggest that Mayawati continues with the Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) in the interest of the state’s development,” says D.S. Verma, executive director, Indian Industries Association (IIA).

Another major task would be to revamp the administrative machinery. “Law and order was a major election issue. Her top priority would be to bring law and order under control,” said a senior officer. He said that Nithari killings and Kavita Rani ‘murder’ case were yet to fade away. Also, she will have to take a decision on the new chief secretary as the incumbent, Shambhu Nath, is due to retire on June 30. A Dalit IAS officer of 1970 batch, Shambhu Nath has been on a three-month extension.

The Kanya Vidya Dhan (a cash allowance of Rs 20,000 for girls on clearing the intermediate examination) and a pension of Rs 500 to the detainees during the emergency may also be reviewed.

(With inputs from Santosh Chowdhury)