New Delhi: The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on SEZs met on Thursday to put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the SEZ policy.
The panel, headed by foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, gave its 'go ahead' to 83 SEZ proposals, which have cleared all the formalities. However, in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the Nandigram fiasco, the panel has put a limit on multi-product SEZs at 5,000 hectares. State governments can reduce this limit even further.
"The decision will be applicable to all SEZs including those which have already been notified," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath was quoted by PTI.
The move will affect a number of planned projects including Posco’s steel SEZ in Orissa and Reliance Group’s Maha-Mumbai SEZ in Maharashtra.
The panel reduced the minimum processing area of an SEZ to 50 percent while earlier it used to be 35 percent. State governments have been asked not to acquire land compulsorily. Also rural development ministry will make a comprehensive package to provide compensation and ensure for one job per displaced family.
In its last meeting on January 22, the eGoM had put a freeze on fresh approvals and notification of SEZs. While the move followed violent protests in different parts of the country over forcible land acquisition by states, even proposals which had land and had been formally approved by the board of approval for SEZs were put on hold.
The eGoM was expected to lift the freeze on about 60 SEZ proposals, which had already been cleared by the law ministry.
Twenty more proposals, which have cleared all formalities after obtaining land including getting a map, a no-encumbrance certificate from states and an all-clear certificate from the development commissioners, might also be given the green light.
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