SEZs at the cost of Agriculture.
SEZ ( Special Economic Zone) concept was introduced in India to create jobs and attract investment. The fallowing are the different kinds of SEZs.
1. Product Specific SEZ
2. Industry Specific SEZ
3. Multi product SEZ
Andhra Pradesh is developing the highest number of SEZs in India. There nearly 56 approved SEZs in AP compared to a total of 250 SEZs approved through out India thus Andhra Pradesh has got maximum SEZs.
Wipro SEZ, Satyam SEZ , Infosys SEZ, DLF SEZ, Indu SEZ, Gitanjali SEZ, Lahari SEZ are some of the SEZs approved for product SEZs in Andhra Pradesh.
Pharma SEZ promoted by Dr. Reddy Laboratories, Textile SEZs at Nellore and Vizag are industry specific SEZs in Andhra Pradesh. Sri City SEZ at Satyaveedu and Brandix SEZ at Vizag, a petrochemical SEZ at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh are multiproduct SEZs thus making Andhra Pradesh in developing SEZs. Andhra Pradesh government has allotted land at a cheaper price to these SEZs.
The Indian government has restricted the state governments not to allot wet agricultural lands that are cultivated two crops in a year. The Andhra Pradesh government has decided not to allot more than 3% of the total land in Andhra Pradesh for non agricultural purpose. The opposition is making noise on the allotment of lands to SEZs in Andhra Pradesh.