SEZs: Left wants central model
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Communist Party of
India National Secretary D. Ra-
ja on Wednesday vehemently
opposed approval for setting
up Special Economic Zones
under the present State Gov-
ernments Land Acquisition
Acts.
Mr. Raja said Left parties
wanted a central model that
States would follow to estab-
lish future SEZs. This would
ensure that agricultural land is
not acquired and farmers are
not displaced.
Delivering a keynote address
at the Associated Chambers of
Commerce and Industry of In-
dia (ASSOCHAM) organised
conclave on “SEZ: New Growth
Propellers” here on Wednes-
day, Mr. Raja also announced
that Left parties have demand-
ed that the Government place a
sectoral cap for SEZs to stop
their mushroom growth.
The central model demand-
ed by the Left should have pro-
visions so that only barren,
wasteful and unproductive
land is acquired to set up future
SEZs with a sectoral cap on
them, Mr. Raja said.
One particular sector should
not have many SEZs at the cost
of other sectors, he added.
The CPI, Mr. Raja said, had
taken up the issue with the
board of approvals for SEZs
that include the Prime Minis-
ter and the Commerce and In-
dustry Minister.