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Policy on SEZ irreversible: Manmohan

New Delhi: Facing criticism on the Special Economic Zone issue, particularly after the police firing at Nandigram in West Bengal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday hinted at the Government going slow on the process due to ``inadequacies'' but made it clear that the decision was ``irreversible.''

``These are decisions which are irreversible. Therefore, it is very important that before we move, if there are any gaps in the performance, gaps in the design and gaps in the implementation, we should halt a little bit even though it takes time,'' Dr. Singh said at the India Today conclave here.

His comments came in response to a question whether the Government proposed to overhaul the SEZ policy in view of strong reservations in several quarters.

But the cost of delay was going to be much less than the cost that would arise if policies were ``bulldozed'' regardless of the human, social and economic concerns, he said, adding that these concerns were needed to be addressed ``if we want the policy to succeed in the long run.''

Land acquisition

The Prime Minister said that on the issue of land acquisition for public purposes ``there have been inadequacies in compensation and in ensuring that interest of all stakeholders who suffer in this process are taken into account''.

The Government was in the process of formulating a ``humane, effective and just policy'' with regard to resettlement of land oustees, Dr. Singh said.

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