Date:24/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/24/stories/2007032408711200.htm

National

Changes in SEZ Rules: CPI (M) surprised

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday expressed surprise over the move by the Commerce Ministry making certain amendments to the Special Economic Zones Rules. It asked the United Progressive Alliance Government not to make piecemeal changes in it.

Reacting to the March 6 notification by the Ministry, which allows a developer to expand the area of SEZ by acquiring more vacant land in the contiguous area, the party's Polit Bureau said in a statement this would mean that the scope of the SEZ could be expanded beyond the initial approval.

"This goes against the suggestion give by the Left parties that a ceiling should be fixed for the size of the SEZ," the statement said.

It said another amendment that sought to continue with tax concessions for the contractors working for private SEZ developers should also be removed.

It pointed out that the CPI (M) and other Left Parties had submitted their position on what changes should be made and that there should be no piecemeal changes in the SEZ rules.