In a serious bid to curb migration of industries to Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamilnadu due to their investor friendly incentives, the Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday has approved policy for the development of integrated industrial area (IIA) in the state. This involves offering a slew of concessions to indutry players in the state. However, the state cabinet has maintained a status quo on the provision of use of 60% land for industrial and 40% for residential purpose in the Integrated Industrial Area (IIA) projects. Congress NCP government in the new industrial policy released way back in January 2013 had earlier proposed the land use. Furthermore, a high level committee chaired by state industries secretary will be delegated power to relax provisions pertaining to land use in IIAs. In the view of constraints in the availability of land at stretch, the development of IIAs will now be possible on 20 hectare land instead of originally proposed 40 hectares. Besides, the cabinet has also relaxed the condition of 24 meter of entry road reducing it to 12 meter for the proposed IIA. The state cabinet decision will also pave way for the conversion of 54 special economic zones (SEZs) spread over 9,500 hectare into IIAs. However, the SEZ promoters, who are non functional since 2005 due to various reasons, will have to approach government within six months for approval to convert them into IIAs. State industries minister Subhash Desai told DNA,'' The government will provide concessions in stamp duty, floor space index and power tariff for the developers of IIAs.'' However, the promoter of IIA will have to meet norms pertaining to legal, environment, safety and infrastructure.'' Today's decision comes close on the heels of state cabinet's nod for the conversion of Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) initially proposed on 2,140 hectare into integrated industrial area (IIA). The government has laid down condition that the Navi Mumbai SEZ Company will have to use 85% as IIA and balance 15% for the residential purpose as per the original contract.

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