No move to relax SEZ land cap: Kamal Nath

New Delhi: The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, on Tuesday said the Government is not considering to relax the 5,000-hectare cap on acquisition of land to set up special economic zones (SEZs).

“Anything on this (SEZ land cap review) will happen only after the Government formulates the rehabilitation policy,” he said on the sidelines of a conference organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs here today.

The Government had put a ceiling of 5,000 ha on SEZs, earlier this year, following protests over acquisition of farmland in several parts of the country.

It had introduced the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill in the winter session of Parliament, which ended on December 7. The Bill is now likely to be taken up by Parliament only in its Budget session in February.

Observing that the Government is making all efforts to bring the underprivileged into the economic fold, he said inclusive growth is a thrust area for the UPA Government.

Re impact on exports

On the proposals to give additional benefits to exporters hit by an appreciating rupee, he said the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is considering it.

“The proposals involve remission of duties. We have already floated a Cabinet note in this regard. The proposals are with the Prime Minister now,” he added.

Mr Nath also applauded Austrian support to the proposed India-EU broad based bilateral trade and investment agreement. “Both India and EU would stand to gain significantly by entering into such an agreement in view of the strong complementaries that exists between the economies,” he said.