Wednesday, August 3 2005 16:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Center has granted in-principle approval to Punjab's proposal for setting up a Special Economic Zone in Amritsar, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said in Lok Sabha today (Aug 3, 2005).

"Once the Government of Punjab identifies the specific product group of the proposed SEZ, the proposal will be processed for grant of necessary approval," Nath said in a statement responding to a calling attention by Navjot Singh Sidhu , Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The SEZ would be sector-specific, as the Punjab Government has indicated difficulty in obtaining 100 hectares of land, which is must for multi-product SEZ, in Amritsar, the Minister said.

Specific product group to be promoted by the Zone is yet to be finalized by the implementing agency, he said.

Sindhu raised the issue through a calling attention on the situation arising out of non-setting up of a SEZ in Amritsar as announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.