No relaxation of SEZ rules: Minister

Within a fortnight of Commerce Secretary G K Pillai talking about a possible relaxation of cap on land size for SEZs, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said on Tuesday there was no proposal to change the 5,000 hectare ceiling prescribed by a group of ministers.

"The government is not considering any proposal to relax the 5,000 hectare cap on land size for special economic zones", Nath told reporters on the sidelines of the TIE Entrepreneurial Summit in New Delhi.

However, the Centre would look at specific proposals from states once the Resettlment and Rehabilitation Policy is implemented, he said.

"There cannot be a one-size-fits-all policy for all the states," he said. The Commerce Ministry was examining these issues, Nath said.

He said the much-delayed review of foreign direct

investment was likely to come up before the Cabinet next week. As regards demand for further relief for the exporters hit by rupee rise, the c ommerce minister said: "The matter is being examined by the Prime Minister". He said there has to be complete remission of duty.

"It has to be ensured that no taxes are exported and exporters have a level playing field," he said. The commerce secretary had stated on December two that the government may relax the 5,000 hectare ceiling on land for multi-product SEZs once amendments in the Land Acquisition Act along with the RR policy was passed by Parliament.

The rural development ministry has introduced the twin bills in the Lok Sabha in the just-concluded winter session of Parliament.

India's great rush for SEZs