Huge response to semiconductor policy by the government

The semiconductor policy announced by the government has received an overwhelming response with 12 prospective players, including Reliance Industries, lining up a total investment proposal of Rs 93,000 crore.

The Reliance Industries has approached the Centre with a Rs 18,500-crore plan to set up a semiconductor wafer fab in India.

The Mukesh Ambani-led firm has also sent a Rs 11,631 crore proposal to build a Solar photo voltaic (PV) polysilicon plant, IT Minister A Raja said. He said these proposals have come as a follow up of the semiconductor policy which doles out special sop packages.

The proposals also include a Rs 8,000-crore plan from Videocon Industries to make TFT LCD Flat Panel, and a Rs 6,000 crore plan of PV Technologies India for solar PV.

Titan Energy System's solar PV, polysilicon plan includes Rs 5880.58 crore and KSK Surya Photovoltaic Ventures' Solar PV proposal projects investments of Rs 3,211 crore, he said.

Signet Solar Inc wants to build a solar PV plant with an investment of 9,672 crore and other proposals include Phoenix Solar India 's Solar PV plant for Rs 1,200 crore and Tata BP Solar India Ltd solar PV unit for 1,692.80 crore.

Other big proposals include Solar Semiconductor's Solar PV plant at Rs 11,821 and TF Solar Power's Solar PV plant investment is at 2,348 crore. Lanco Solar has sent a proposal for Solar PV, Polysilicon plant at a cost of 12,938 crore.

Department of Information Technology, the nodal ministry, has set up a panel of technical experts to evaluate the plans.

"The promoters will come up to the Appraisal Committee for sanction of subsidy under the scheme once they have reached the threshold limit of investment, as indicated in the guidelines of the Special Incentive Package Scheme", he said.

The Economic Times