VISAKHAPATNAM: Chief secretary SP Tucker directed collector Pravin Kumar to issue showcause notices to the IT companies that did not start their operations and which failed to provide jobs as promised.
Some of the IT companies had taken plots in the IT-SEZ assuring the government that they would provide jobs. However, some of the companies did not kick-start their operations and some others did not provide jobs as promised to the government.
Interacting with the district administration and IT professionals through video conference on Thursday, the chief secretary directed the collector to take immediate action on the companies which had taken plots and not started their units.
Air connectivity
Discussing the issues related to the IT sector, Tucker directed the collector to send proposals on the need of air connectivity to various nations after discussing with the airport officials.
With the request from Pravin Kumar for direct flight service to Colombo and two more flight services between Vizag and Tirupati and visa on arrival to the foreigners, the CS directed the collector to send proposals immediately and promised to take up the matter with the Central government.
IT professionals E Ravi and K Sridhar requested Tucker to rejig the IT policy of the Andhra Pradesh government to be at par with the Gujarat government’s IT policy. Responding, Tucker said that the cabinet would discuss the IT policy on January 25 and IT secretary Vijayanad would be in the city to register suggestions and opinions of the IT professionals.
The collector informed the CS that there was no land with the government to expand the IT industry in the city. The collector said that 36 acres of land is available adjacent to health city and another eight acres which was allotted to the police department at Kapuluppada. The collector requested the CS to allot both the sites for the development of the IT sector.