The Mayawati-helmed Uttar Pradesh government has asked the Centre not to sanction the special economic zone (SEZ) proposed at Noida by the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG).
Ambani, a confidant of ousted chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav with whom Mayawati has a running feud, seems to be caught in the middle of a war between Uttar Pradesh's political heavyweights.
Mayawati presided over the state Cabinet meeting on Thursday that reversed the Yadav regime's decision to allow the 1,200-acre multi-product SEZ. Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh later said that a committee appointed by the government had pointed out lapses in the allotment of land and non-conformity with Union Government guidelines.
The rules state that the land allotted for setting up an SEZ should be contiguous. However, Singh said, the land allotted for the Noida SEZ was divided by a road. "It would not be proper to sanction the SEZ under such circumstances," he said.
The state Cabinet also decided to constitute a committee headed to review the proposals received for setting up information technology projects, SEZs and high-tech cities. The committee will submit its recommendations within two weeks, Singh said. The process of land acquisition would also be reviewed.
R-ADAG responded by stating: "We look forward to discussing the matter with the Uttar Pradesh government and resolve all issues. We have won the Noida SEZ on a transparent and competitive basis."
