LF to face some problem over Centre's new SEZ policy

Kolkata, Apr 6 (UNI) Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu today expressed concern over the Centre's new policy on Special Economic Zone(SEZ) which will pose ''difficulty'' to the Bengal government in acquiring land for the SEZs in the State.

The state government would face ''difficulty'' in acquiring land for the SEZs following the Centre's new policy.

''We will discuss the issue in our party in the Left Front meeting,'' the veteran leader told reporters after attending the CPI(M) state secretariat meeting.

The Empowered Group of Ministers', headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had announced yesterday that a state government could not acquire land for a SEZ on behalf of private developers, nor can it form joint ventures with private developers if they do not already have land in possession.

''We are welcoming the Centre's decision that at least one member of a displaced family, who will lose their land due to acquisition for the SEZs, will be given job. But time will say how it can be implemented in a proper manner,'' he said.

Mr Basu said, ''My party will seek people's cooperation and convince them about the need of industrialisation. We are progressing slowly.'' ''We have already decided that the chemical hub project by the Salim Group will be delayed by at least three months, Mr Basu said.

UNI