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No proposal to change ceiling for SEZs

NEW DELHI: Continuing with the guessing game over the possible relaxation of cap on the land size for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Kamal Nath, on Tuesday said there was no proposal to change the 5,000 hectares ceiling prescribed by the Group of Ministers (GoM).

It was only a fortnight ago that the Commerce Secretary, G. K. Pillai, had talked about possible relaxation of cap on land size for SEZs. The Commerce Secretary had stated on December 2 that the Government might relax the 5,000 hectare ceiling on land for multi-product SEZs once amendments to the Land Acquisition Act along with the Re-settlement and Rehabilitation (RR) policy was passed by Parliament.

“The Union Government is not considering any proposal to relax the 5,000 hectare cap on land size for Special Economic Zones (SEZs),” Mr. Kamal Nath told newsmen on the sidelines of the TiE Entrepreneurial Summit here.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a global not-for-profit organisation focussed on promoting entrepreneurship. However, the Centre would look at specific proposals from the States once the RR policy was implemented, he said. “There cannot be a one-size-fits-all policy for all the States. The Commerce Ministry was examining all these issues,” Mr. Kamal Nath said. He said the much-delayed review of foreign direct investment was likely to come up before the Union Cabinet next week.

As regards demand for further relief for exporters hit by rupee rise, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister said, “The matter is being examined by the Prime Minister.”

He said there had to be complete remission of duty. It had to be ensured that no taxes were imposed and exporters had a level-playing field. The Rural Development Ministry has introduced the twin Bills in Parliament in the just-concluded winter session. The ceiling had forced Reliance Industries and real estate majors DLF and Omaxe to cut the size of their mega SEZs to 5,000 hectares.

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