Left Parties asks Centre to stop SEZs

New Delhi, Sep 20: The Left parties today asked the government to stop the creation of hundreds of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) across the country and demanded constitution of a high-level commission to examine the displacement of farmers and the poor due to allotment of agricultural land to SEZs.

The just-concluded national executive of the Communist Party of India (CPI) expressed ''deep concern'' over the large scale acquisition of agricultural land to create hundreds of SEZs.

Stating that the issue is going to come up in a big way in the UPA-Left Coordination meeting likely to be held on September 28, CPI (M) polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury said his party was asking for a relook at the whole issue.

''We demand that the government should put restrictions on setting up on more SEZs and come out with a clear cut policy to ensure that tax concessions are not given to real estate agents,'' Mr Yechury said.

On revenue loss of thousands of crores of rupees by way of giving away agricultural land to big corporate houses, he said the government should learn from China where the State purchases the land and gives to the companies on lease instead of selling the land.

''There should be an immediate half to the process of creation of SEZs and a high level commission be set up for examining the issues involved and for ensuring the rights and interests of the affected people,'' said Mr Bardhan.

He said the farmers should be protected and suitable amendments be made to the Land Acquisition Act while re-examining the ''whole concept'' behind the SEZ Act.

A resolution adopted by the CPI national executive said large scale acquisition of agricultural land in the name of ''public interest'' is going on across the country. Nearly 300 SEZs have been approved and already about 134,000 hectares of land acquired for 67 such zones, he added.

According to the party, industries within the SEZs will be exempted from taxes, cess, duties, industry transaction tax on securities and service tax, electricity duty and central sales tax.

The SEZs, the resolution said, would also be exempted from labour laws and the state governments would be required to notify SEZs as public utilities for the purpose of application of the Industrial Disputes Act.

UNI