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NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday welcomed the reported decision of the Manmohan Singh Government to put on hold all proposals for Special Economic Zones but said fundamental changes were needed in the SEZ Act.

In a statement, the Polit Bureau said as the party had been arguing, it was essential to: include a land use clause to put a ceiling on the land, to define the nature of land which may be used and to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the land must be used for manufacturing, processing and 25 per cent for infrastructural purposes; to ensure a full rehabilitation policy for those affected; removal of tax and other concessions now being offered for the creation of SEZs; and guarantee of labour laws within SEZs.

At the same time, the CPI (M) also called for a complete reworking of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to strengthen the rights of tenants and agricultural workers and all those whose livelihood depended on the land.

The CPI (M) and the Left Parties submitted a detailed note to the Government on all these issues and called upon the Government to bring the necessary changes in the laws for discussion and adoption in the coming Parliament session.

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