No compulsory acquisition of land for SEZs: eGOM

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) The Empowered Group of Ministers (eGOM), headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, today decided that there would be no compulsory acquisition of land for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Those wanting to set up SEZs would have to purchase land on their own or use their own land, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath told reporters after a meeting of the eGOM.

The eGOM cleared 83 cases of SEZs and the formal approval would be issued by the Department of Commerce.

Asserting that there was no question of going back on the SEZ issue, he said the remaining cases would be processed.

The minister said 50 per cent of SEZs would be reserved for the processing industry.

The ceiling on land for SEZs was placed at 5,000 hectares and this could be reduced by state governments.

UNI