As slowdown-hit developers drop plans for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), fresh trouble may be brewing for SEZs, thanks to the UPA?s new coalition matrix. Its largest ally in the 15th Lok Sabha, the Trinamool Congress, is pitching for a re-look into the SEZ policy.
Emerging from a UPA partners? meeting in New Delhi on distribution of ministerial berths, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday, ?I talked about SEZs, agriculture policies and the need for a relationship between industry and agriculture to protect employment.?
Famous for her agitations against the Nandigram SEZ and the Tata Motors? aborted plant at Singur, Banerjee is also against the petrochemical investment hub proposed at Nayachar, close to Haldia in West Bengal.
The commerce ministry isn?t too perturbed as it believes that the current rules governing SEZs already address Banerjee?s concerns. Yet, it is working on streamlining the SEZ policy by seeking submissions from SEZ developers, units and stakeholders to identify issues that could hamper such zones? viability.
?The board of approval for SEZs does not clear any project where it is found that land is forcibly acquired. All state governments have been asked not to forward any proposals without ensuring that the land procured for the project is free from any legal encumbrances and allegations of forcible acquisition. This is what the empowered group of ministers had decided,? said a senior ministry official. The Congress manifesto is committed to ensuring that farmers get market rates for land acquired for industrial projects, and giving them an option to become stakeholders in industrial ventures.