The government will on June 4 consider 15 new proposals for setting up special economic zones (SEZ). Of these, 11 are for IT, ITeS and electronic hardware zones. The proposals, including those of Larsen & Toubro and Deccan Infrastructure and Land Holdings, will be taken up by the Board of Approval (BoA) for SEZ, chaired by commerce secretary Gopal K Pillai. Six of the applications relating to different sectors belong to Hyderabad-based Deccan Infrastructure. L&T proposes to set up a 15-hectare IT zone in Gujarat.

Exports double, while jobs and investments show robust growth rate. In data that may lay to rest all doubts of sceptics, special economic zones (SEZs), which its supporters backed by arguing that they will boost exports, investments and employment, delivered on all these three counts during 2007-08. They are expected to improve their performance in the current fiscal.

After suffering reverses in panchayat polls in several districts of West Bengal, the CPI (M) on Thursday said industrialisation in the state would continue, though steps to acquire land would be taken "cautiously". "The process of industrialisation will continue. However, we have to take steps cautiously (to acquire land) and decide on where industries would be set up," party Politburo member Biman Bose told reporters here. Mr Bose, who is here to attend the Central Committee meeting, said, "We have to take the people into confidence and move forward."

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee reiterated here on Monday her demand that the 400 acres of land that she claims had been acquired from peasants in Singur without their consent for the setting up of the Tata Motors' car manufacturing project there should be returned to their owners. She scoffed at veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu's remark on Sunday that any attempt to sabotage the project would send the message to the people that the Trinamool Congress is against development.

The PHD Chamber has said it would "welcome' the Delhi Government's new industrial policy when it is announced and enumerated several proposals that it wants to be a part of the finalised policy. Representatives of the Chamber said the new industrial policy would be formulated taking into account the norms of planned development included in the Master Plan for Delhi-2021. It had been revealed by the State Government that the Special Economic Zone policy for Delhi had been approved and would soon be notified.

Calangute Front for Responsible Tourism has resolved to oppose mega projects in the village. On the call given by the Calangute Front for Responsible Tourism, people of all walks of life assembled at St Alex Church compound on Monday, to show their solidarity for the meet.

Trouble broke out at Singur in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Sunday when police had to burst tear gas shells to disperse a mob that damaged a watch-tower near the project site of the Tata Motors' automobile manufacturing unit where construction work was underway. The mob allegedly hurled bricks at the police when challenged, injuring some of them. Additional security forces were rushed to the area, a senior district police official said.

It's a simple strategy of protest with no pretensions of winning. The aim of the Polepally protesters: "That we get our land back, our lives back. Our one and only demand.' COMMON APPEAL: "Voting for the Jadcherla 13 means saluting with love our Mother Earth.'

A fresh petition was filed at the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the land acquisition for the proposed SEZ in Krishnapatnam in Nellore district. Mr T. Gopal Reddy of Nellore town filed the petition seeking a direction to suspend the notice issued by the mining department for termination of mining lease.

In what may be a sign of the changing political environment ahead of general elections, the Centre has turned down the Maharashtra government's proposal to provide labour law flexibility in special economic zones. The Centre communicated its opinion on the Maharashtra Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Designated Areas Bill after a two-year wait. The move is expected to impact investor sentiment in Maharashtra, which tops the state-wise charts for the maximum number of duty-free enclaves (see table).