Procedure for making proposal to establish Special Economic Zone

Section 3 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 deals with procedure for making proposal to establish Special Economic Zone. A Special Economic Zone may be established under this Act, either jointly or severally by the Central Government, State Government, or any person for manufacture of goods or rendering services or for both or as a Free Trade and Warehousing Zone. The Act came into force on 10 Feb 2006.

(1) A Special Economic Zone may be established under this Act, either jointly or severally by the Central Government, State Government, or any person for manufacture of goods or rendering services or for both or as a Free Trade and Warehousing Zone.

(2) Any person, who intends to set up a Special Economic Zone, may, after identifying the area, make a proposal to the State Government concerned for the purpose of setting up the Special Economic Zone.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), any person, who intends to set up a Special Economic Zone, may, after identifying the area, at his option, make a proposal directly to the Board for the purpose of setting up the Special Economic Zone:

Provided that where such a proposal has been received directly from a person under this sub-section, the Board may grant approval and after receipt of such approval, the person concerned shall obtain the concurrence of the State Government within the period, as may be prescribed.

(4) In case a State Government intends to set up a Special Economic Zone, it may after identifying the area, forward the proposal directly to the Board for the purpose of setting up the Special Economic Zone:

Provided that the Central Government may,--

(a) after consulting the State Government concerned;

(b) without referring the proposal for setting up the Special Economic Zone to the Board; and

(c) after identifying the area,

suo motu set up and notify the Special Economic Zone.

(5) Every proposal under sub-sections (2) to (4) shall be made in such form, and, manner, containing such particulars as may be prescribed.

(6) The State Government may, on receipt of the proposal made under sub-section (2), forward the same together with its recommendations to the Board within such period as may be prescribed.

(7) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (8), the Board may, after receipt of the proposal under sub-sections (2) to (4), approve the proposal subject to such terms and conditions as it may deem fit to impose, or modify or reject the proposal.

(8) The Central Government may prescribe the following requirements for establishment of a Special Economic Zone, namely:--

(a) the minimum area of land and other terms and conditions subject to which the Board shall approve, modify or reject any proposal received by it under sub-sections (2) to (4); and

(b) the terms and conditions, subject to which the Developer shall undertake the authorised operations and his obligations and entitlements:

Provided that different minimum area of land and other terms and conditions referred to in clause (a) may be prescribed by the Central Government for a class or classes of Special Economic Zones.

(9) If the Board,--

(a) approves without any modification the proposal received under sub-sections (2) to (4), it shall communicate the same to the Central Government;

(b) approves with modifications the proposal received under sub-sections (2) to (4), it shall, communicate such modifications to the person or the State Government concerned and if such modifications have been accepted by such person or State Government, the Board shall communicate the approval to the Central Government;

(c) rejects the proposal received under sub-sections (2) to (4), it shall record the reasons therefor and communicate the rejection to the Central Government which shall intimate to the State Government or the person concerned.

(10) The Central Government shall, on receipt of communication under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (9), grant, within such time as may be prescribed, a letter of approval on such terms and conditions and obligations and entitlements as may be approved by the Board, to the Developer, being the person or the State Government concerned:

Provided that the Central Government may, on the basis of approval of the Board, approve more than one Developer in a Special Economic Zone in cases where one Developer does not have in his possession the minimum area of contiguous land, as may be prescribed, for setting up a Special Economic Zone and in such cases, each Developer shall be considered as a Developer in respect of the land in his possession.

(11) Any person who, or a State Government which, intends to provide any infrastructure facilities in the identified area referred to in sub-sections (2) to (4), or undertake any authorised operation may, after entering into an agreement with the Developer referred to in sub-section (10), make a proposal for the same to the Board for its approval and the provisions of sub-section (5) and sub-sections (7) to (10) shall, as far as may be, apply to the said proposal made by such person or the State Government.

(12) Every person or the State Government referred to in sub-section (11), whose proposal has been approved by the Board and who, or which, has been granted letter of approval by the Central Government, shall be considered as a Co-Developer of the Special Economic Zone.

(13) Subject to the provisions of this section and the letter of approval granted to a Developer, the Developer may allocate space or built up area or provide infrastructure services to the approved Units in accordance with the agreement entered into by him with the entrepreneurs of such Units.

Section 3, The Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (Act 28 of 2005).