New Delhi: Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran's has criticized the freeze on SEZ approvals vociferously.

After violent protests over land acquisition rocked West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the Centre had decided to put on hold all SEZ notifications and approvals till a national relief and rehabilitation policy was formulated.

Maran has urged the Centre to clear proposals "at least where companies have their own land."

He added that companies like Nokia and Flextronics, which wish to set up ancillary units in Tamil Nadu to manufacture keypads and other parts, were adversely affected by the freeze. "There are at least ten pending proposals for setting up of ancillary units which are yet to be cleared," he said.

The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat are also urging the de-freezing of SEZ approvals. They say the delay in clearing SEZ proposals could dissuade investors and had already thrown a spanner in the works of several firms who had invested in equipment, they say.