Konkan tops the list of areas where the state government has cancelled Special Economic Zones (SEZ) or withdrawn their proposals. Out of the 63 SEZ projects that were scrapped or withdrawn, more than half (35) are in the Konkan.

According to state government data, out of 139 SEZs approved in the state, 51 projects have been notified and 24 of them have started. Among the others, notification of nine SEZ projects in the Konkan, five in Pune and two in Nagpur have been revoked. In addition to this, SEZ proposals in the Konkan (26), Pune (17), Aurangabad (3) and Nagpur (1) have been withdrawn.

The issue was raised by Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe in the state Legislative Council about the current status of SEZs in the state. She also inquired about the options being explored by the state government for SEZs.

Replying to her, industries minister Subhash Desai said that the state government had decided to develop the SEZ land, whose notifications have been revoked and proposals are withdrawn, as an integrated industrial areas.

According to him, 60 per cent of the notified area will be used for industrial development and the remaining 40 per cent for the development of other supplementary matters. In this, three-fourth area will be used for residential and non-residential use and one-fourth area for commercial and financial cause.

The state has given sops like exemption from paying stamp duty and local body taxes for setting up SEZs.