SEZ cap may be relaxed

The government might soon review the 5,000 hectre cap on multi-product SEZs. Commerce secretary G.K. Pillai told BT: “It’s an issue which will be considered once the amendments to the Land Acquisition Act gets parliamentary approval.” Pillai also said the ceiling of 5,000 hectares applicable to SEZs could be relaxed on “a case-tocase basis”.

The move is being eagerly awaited by companies like Reliance and DLF, which were looking at huge SEZ facilities, some over 10,000 hectares, before the ceiling was imposed. “Not many, though, have been able to furnish proof of acquiring more than 5,000 hectares,” says Pillai.

— Amit Mukherjee