CPI(M) to give govt a fresh note on SEZs

The CPI(M) plans to submit a fresh note on special economic zones (SEZs) to the UPA government in the light of the recent changes in the rules by an empowered group of ministers (EGoM).

For this, the party's central leadership has sought the views of the chief ministers of the three Left-ruled states. CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat is learnt to have spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on telephone to discuss the EGoM's suggestions.

Bhattacharjee, who was in New Delhi today, said he would go by the CPI(M) Politburo's decision on SEZs. He refused to spell out the state government's views on the proposed changes saying he would hold further talks with the party general secretary.

Even as Bhattacharjee is looking up to the party leadership for guidelines, the state and central leaderships of the party have divergent opinion on land acquisition for the zones.

While many ministers in the Left Front government are on record supporting the idea of allowing corporates to purchase land directly from farmers, the central leadership wants a role for the state in order to protect the interests of farmers.

The Politburo has already rejected the EGoM's suggestions saying that they did not address the core issue of tax concessions to SEZs. The EGoM did not look at the proliferation of SEZs, it said, adding that there was an urgent need to review the type of industries to be set up in SEZs and to apply sector-wise caps.

According to the party, allowing a maximum of 5,000 hectares for multi-product SEZs is uncalled for.

The EGoM had also not lowered the minimum size of 1,000 hectares for multi-product SEZs, the party said. A multi-product SEZ should have a minimum area of 400 hectares with a ceiling of 2,000 hectares.

CPI(M) sources said the party had given two notes on SEZs""one at the UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting and the other to the Standing Committee on Commerce. "The government has ignored most of the suggestions.

We will give a fresh note in the light of the EGoM's suggestions. If the government still does not pay heed to our suggestions, we will use the floor of the House (Parliament) to press for our demands and get the required amendments done in the SEZ Act and Rules as also in the Land Acquisition Act 1894," said a CPI(M) source.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and HRD Minister Arjun Singh requesting them to open a regional campus of Aligarh Muslim University in Murshidabad, Bhattacharjee said.